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Bruins allow too many chances against Hawks, Mustangs

Two season-long struggles reared their head again for the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins, as their lack of finish and shutdown play in their own end were major factors in a pair of weekend road losses.
Wyatt Garagan

Two season-long struggles reared their head again for the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins, as their lack of finish and shutdown play in their own end were major factors in a pair of weekend road losses.

On Friday, the Bruins lost 4-3 to the Nipawin Hawks after a comeback bid fell short. The next day, they went down to defeat 5-1 at the hands of the Melfort Mustangs.

The Bruins (6-13-0-3) are tied for last place in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with the La Ronge Ice Wolves.

"The effort was really good. I think the guys worked hard," Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood said of the weekend games.

Lewgood said the level of play in Saturday's loss was closer than the score would indicate.

"It was like this. I was watching football on Sunday and I watched teams drive down to the red zone, nearly 100 yards, and then throw an interception. That's what the game felt like to me. We'd be generating opportunities and playing well, and then have an unforced error and they'd come down and score. They pounced on every opportunity," he said.

The Bruins struck first blood, with Kurt Sonne lighting the lamp 11 minutes into the game to give the Bruins a one-goal lead after 20 minutes.

It took the Mustangs only 29 seconds to level it up in the second period, with the goal coming from recent trade acquisition Landon Robin.

Luc Lemire pulled the hosts ahead by a goal with 50 seconds left in the frame.

Mustangs star Travis Mayan broke the game open in the third, scoring twice in the first half of the period to make it 4-1.

Justin Boyer added another insurance marker on the power play with less than five minutes to play.

Melfort outshot Estevan 36-25. Bruins starter Brett Lewchuk made 31 saves, while Mustangs goalie Richard Palmer stopped 24.

Friday's game was much closer, although that was after two unanswered goals by the Bruins.

"On Friday, we were able to capitalize on some opportunities, but unfortunately, we gave them too many. That was kind of the problem again Saturday. With a team like Melfort, you just can't afford to give them too many opportunities," said Lewgood.

Nipawin's Reece Forman and Estevan's Lynnden Pastachak traded goals less than two minutes apart in the first period, with Pastachak's coming on a power play.

Former Bruins prospect Garret Lockeridge gave the hosts the lead less than two minutes into the second with a man advantage.

Later in the period, Carter Danczak put the Hawks ahead 3-1.

Carter Coben appeared to put the game out of reach 91 seconds into the third on a power play, but the Bruins battled back with two power play goals of their own.

Darcy DeRoose, who would be traded three days later, netted the team's second goal at the 7:27 mark, and Keegan Allison made it 4-3 with 48 seconds left in regulation.

Shots on goal were 39-30 for Nipawin. Bruins goalie Tyler Gutenberg stopped 35 shots, while Nipawin netminder Joe O'Brien turned away 27.

The one bright spot in the game for Estevan was that they went 3-for-8 on the power play, an area where the team has generally controlled the play and created scoring chances without a lot of finish.

"That was good. They deserved it, and I think it's indicative of our play a lot of nights, where we do a lot of good things but just can't finish. It was a chance for them to see what they're capable of," said Lewgood.

The Hawks and Mustangs have had the Bruins' number in recent years, and Lewgood said they aren't easy clubs to play against.

"I thought we played some pretty good hockey against both teams last year. I just think they're good hockey teams and it makes for some tough games."

The Bruins were slated to host the Yorkton Terriers last night for their first meeting of the season. They will face the Battlefords North Stars on Friday (7:30 p.m., Affinity Place) before visiting the Notre Dame Hounds on Saturday.