Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Mustangs Squeak by Bruins 2-1

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The Estevan Bruins were able to pick up their first point of the season but were unable to record their first win after a 2-1 loss in overtime to the Melfort Mustangs. The Bruins drop down to 0-2-1 on the year.

Melfort had a little jump on the road against the Bruins in the opening period. But the Bruins were able to swing the momentum on their side after Connor Milligan dropped the mitts and fought with Pearce Gourley. The Bruins had a strong end to the period but were unable to score in the opening period. Austin Daae had the best chance in the period, on a powerplay Daae took a pass and had a wide open net and was unable to score from a tough angle.

In the second period the Bruins started off strong and were rewarded with their hard work with the opening goal. At the 3:40 mark, Calder Neufeld completed a perfect passing play from Tanner Froese and Cole Olson and managed to have his shot touch the ipost and in to the net to give the Bruins the lead.

The Mustangs came back from the opening goal and were able to tie the game a few minutes later. Brandon Sloan  buried a shot past Curtis Martinu to tie the game up at 1-1.

Both goaltenders Martinu and Patrick Johnson of the Mustangs turned the game into a goalies duel for the final thirty minutes as neither team were able to grab a lead. The power play gave each team some chances, the Bruins had a 5 on 3 for over a minute but weren't able to score while the Mustangs had back to back power plays that nearly covered four minutes but the game remained tied heading into overtime.

The Bruins were shorthanded at the beginning of overtime but the Bruuins were able to kill of the penalty. With a couple of minutes remaining in overtime, Matt Brykaliuk took a nasty hit from behind from Anthony Pickering. Austin Yano jumped to his teammate's defence and started a fight with Pickering. Yano was ejected from the game with the instigator penalty along with a fighting major while Pickering was ejected with a checking behind penalty and fighting major.

In the final minute Jarrett Zentner's pass from the side of the net bounced off a stick and squeaked past Martinu to give Melfort the win. The Bruins are the only winless team in the SJHL.

Bruins Head Coach Keith Cassidy said after the game it was a frustrating ending to the game but added the Bruins shouldn't have been in overtime in the first place. He said the Bruins had troubling finishing their scoring chances. Cassidy is confident that the scoring chances will come for the Bruins.

Martinu had a strong game for the Bruins making 29 saves for the Bruins. He said that he felt more comfortable this week after arriving last week. He added being in practice this week gave him and the team a chance to work on communication with his defencemen.

The Bruins are back in action on Friday when they kick off a road trip in Nipawin.

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