Momentum is a tough thing to predict – especially in sports.
Sometimes, it can appear as if from nowhere and propel a team all the way to a championship. At other times, it can evaporate from a seemingly red-hot team at a moment's notice.
Just ask Surrey Eagles' head coach Matt Erhart, whose hockey team failed to score in a 3-0 loss to the Powell River Kings Tuesday, in Game 1 of the BC Hockey League Coastal Conference finals.
The game came just two days after Surrey won a thrilling first-round series against Cowichan Valley that ended with Game 7 overtime goal from Eagles forward Brandon Tanev.
And a day prior to the tilt with the Kings, Erhart said he was confident – or at least hopeful – that the momentum from one series might give his squad a boost in the next.
No such luck, unfortunately, as the offence ground to a halt Tuesday at Hap Parker Arena. The Eagles managed just 26 shots on Kings' netminder Sean Maguire compared to 49 for Powell River on Surrey goalie Andrew Hunt – though some BCHL barns are notorious for skewing the shot totals.
The home team, who finished just three points up on the Eagles in the regular season, got on the board first Tuesday when Brendan MacDonald beat Hunt, and Powell River stretched its lead to 3-0 by the second intermission on goals from Cohen Adair and Evan Richardson, who both have six points in seven playoff games.
The Eagles had the opportunity to tie the series with Game 2 Wednesday, but results were not available by press deadline.
After being held off the scoresheet in the series opener, Erhart may be tempted to shuffle his lineup to some degree for Game 2 and beyond. With both clubs so familiar with each other – they played seven times in the regular season and in playoffs three of the last four years – Erhart said before the series that he expected plenty of mid-series adjustments from both sides.
"We're fairly familiar with them and their personnel, and they're familiar with us, too," he said Monday.
"You set your team up as best you can, and then after Game 1, you usually make some more changes."
Games 3 and 4 are slated for South Surrey Arena Thursday and Friday nights, both beginning at 7 p.m.