Although he was generally happy with their play both nights, the results were not there for Chris Lewgood and the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins.
The Bruins lost both games of their northern road swing on the weekend, falling 6-3 to the Flin Flon Bombers on Friday and 3-1 to the La Ronge Ice Wolves the next night.
Estevan is now 1-4 on the year entering tomorrow's home game against the Melville Millionaires (7:30 p.m., Affinity Place).
"We're definitely disappointed in our record. Those points this time of year count just as much as the end of the year," said Lewgood, the team's head coach and general manager.
"But we're not hitting the panic button by any means. I think we're a couple of inches here and a couple of inches there away from being 3-2, and being above .500 and looking good. We gotta improve and buckle down and get that extra little bit out of the guys."
Early in Saturday's game, the Bruins and Ice Wolves traded goals 24 seconds apart. Dave Randall scored a power play goal for La Ronge and Wyatt Garagan quickly replied for the visitors.
However, a late goal and an early one helped the Wolves get the win.
Cole Porter gave the hosts the lead with just 13 seconds left in the second period. Less than two minutes into the third, Connor Kortko added an insurance marker on a power play.
"I thought we played really well against La Ronge. Although (goalie Brett Lewchuk) was called upon to make some saves, I thought for the most part we carried the play in that game. The difference was they were able to bury a high percentage of their chances. We weren't even close. We missed a pile of open nets," said Lewgood.
Shots on goal were 36-35 for Estevan.
The Ice Wolves went 2-for-3 on the power play, and Lewgood said the Bruins' penalty kill needs to improve.
"We've gotta be better on the penalty kill. Missed assignments that way hurt us a little. But it basically comes down to finishing and not finishing."
On Friday, the Bruins and Bombers were tied 3-3 after two periods, but the Bombers scored three unanswered goals in the third, including an empty netter.
"Halfway through the second, we started having bounces go against us and the breaks weren't going our way, and we didn't respond well to the adversity. We dropped our level, dropped our guard and against a team like Flin Flon, as soon as you do that, they'll take advantage," said Lewgood.
Chris Rauckman and Austin Calladine scored three minutes apart early in the third to put the Bombers ahead 5-3 and Parker Evans-Campbell potted an empty netter.
The Bruins took a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals by R.T. Rice and Josh Rieger.
The Bombers, however, scored three straight in the second period to grab the lead.
Dean Allison found the back of the net 56 seconds into the period, and then Mason Etter and Austin Evans scored power play goals a minute apart to make it 3-2.
Bruins defenceman David Robertson tied the game 3-3 with the man advantage only 32 seconds after Evans' goal.
"We played really well. We dictated the pace, got lots of quality chances and we were drawing penalties through hard work," Lewgood said of the Bruins' play in the first 30 minutes of the game.
He added the shots, counting 49-28 for Flin Flon, were not a reflection of the play.
Lewgood said that while the team's 1-4 record is not indicative of their play so far, they need to put the puck in the net more.
"We haven't been able to score goals. You can play the game great, but if you don't put the puck in the net, you're not going to win. The bottom line is we gotta start capitalizing on our chances."
The Bruins acquired 1998-born forward Taylor Ross from the Notre Dame Hounds recently for future considerations. Ross played with the Notre Dame Argos last year in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, putting up 16 goals and 41 points in 44 games as a rookie.
Ross will join the Bruins and play this season as a 16-year-old.
"Taylor is a skilled player who is excellent with the puck. He will add some polish around the net for us," said Lewgood.
"Taylor will be a one-year guy for us, two at the most. He is a big body and a young guy with a lot of talent."
The Bruins also released 19-year-old forward Richard Yusa on Monday and Lewgood said there will be more roster moves to come.
"As a '95, we just needed to see more. He had unlimited opportunities and just wasn't able to take advantage."
Meanwhile, injured defenceman Zach Douglas (collarbone) played in the SJHL Showcase in Warman this week and is expected to suit up for tomorrow's game.
Bruins players invited to play in the Showcase were forwards Kurt Sonne, Keaton Longpre and Lynnden Pastachak, defencemen Douglas, Robertson, Nolan Nicholas and Rieger and goalie Brett Lewchuk.
Bruins prospects invited included forwards Chaseton Sare, Riley Woods, Tyran Brown, Tanner Brewster and Turner Ripplinger, as well as defencemen Brad Bigsby, Jake Tesarowski and Jake Heerspink.
