Abbotsford – Ending the month of November on a high note, the Abbotsford Pilots (9-16-0-0) shut out the White Rock Whalers (14-10-0-1) by a score of 4-0 at MSA Arena on Friday night. The win ends a four-game losing skid for Abbotsford, and improves the club to 18 points on the 2019-20 season. The Pilots top line of Jared Pitkethly, Alex Beechey, and Mason Smith were a force throughout the evening, with each player recording one goal and one assist. Abbotsford goaltender Noah Masog earned the shutout facing 36 shots, notching his first win since September 26th. Whalers goaltender Chris Akerman stopped 37 shots from the opposition.
1st Period
No scoring.
Shots 14-6 Abbotsford
2nd Period
The Pilots struck first on the man advantage as Ethan Rideout threw the puck on net from the right circle and Devon Wolfe potted it home in a scrum at 9:25 for his fifth of the season. This was only the 17th power play goal from the Pilots this season, who currently have the lowest-ranked power play in the PJHL. Wolfe’s marker would stand as the lone goal after two periods.
Shots: 15-14 White Rock
3rd Period
A pair of goals from the Pilots’ top line put them well ahead in the final frame. Mason Smith burst into the offensive zone up the right wing to centre a pass to Alex Beechey who netted his fourth of the season at 6:49. Later at 14:50, a dump-in from Beechey connected with captain Jared Pitkethly for his third of the season, his first since October 18th. An empty net goal from Mason Smith was the insurance marker for the home team putting the final score at 4-0.
Shots: 15-14 White Rock
Final Score: Abbotsford Pilots 4 – White Rock Whalers 0
Final Shots: 41-36 Abbotsford Pilots
Noah Masog – 36/36 saves for Abbotsford, W (2-8-0)
Chris Akerman – 37/41 saves for White Rock, L (9-4-0)
Abbotsford Power Play: 1/6
White Rock Power Play: 0/4
3 Stars:
1) Alex Beechey (ABB – 1G, 1A)
2) Mason Smith (ABB – 1G, 1A)
3) Jared Pitkethly (ABB – 1G, 1A)
Next Pilots Game: Sunday in Burnaby against the Steelers at 7:15pm.
