The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins were only a few minutes away from a win against the only team with a better record in the Viterra Division, but a blown assignment by a defencemen led to the Yorkton Terriers’ tying goal and the Bruins ended up losing 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday night at Affinity Place.
It’s been that kind of first half for the Bruins (16-18-2-1), who are now six points behind the Terriers (20-12-1-0).
“We had… lots of times where we lost our responsibilities and it cost us,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.
There was no satisfaction in playing the top team in the division well, Lewgood said.
“We have it in us to be the top team in the division ourselves but we’ve just found a way to lose those games,” he said. “We eliminate that we’ll be in a lot better shape.”
The Bruins went up 3-1 on Bryce Platt’s marker at 6:56 of the second period and seemed to be in control of the game at that point. However, the Bruins took three penalties in a row, with a lengthy two-man disadvantage, and allowed Jared Legien to score his second goal of the game to bring the Terriers to within one.
Aiden Bulych scored late in the third period to tie the game, and Legien scored the deciding goal in the shootout.
Devan Harrison, with a penalty shot goal, and Johnny Witzke scored the Bruins’ other goals.
Lewgood felt Harrison had a great game, as the 6’2”, 185-pound 18-year-old defenceman from Dysart was in his third as a Bruin since being let go by the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League.
“It’s not exactly structurally different, it’s just getting to know guys and players and stuff like that,” Harrison said. “I’ve got to keep my intensity from when I was up there. As long as I do that, I think good things will happen here.”
Harrison wouldn’t have been the most obvious choice among the Bruins to take the penalty shot in the first period, when Terrier defenceman Brendan Mark covered the puck with his glove in the Yorkton crease.
“It wasn’t exactly your most offensive group on the ice and I wanted a guy who was going to shoot the puck,” said Lewgood. “I thought for sure… early in his time with his he’d approach it with humility and be a shooter instead of trying something fancy. Ultimately it paid off.”
It was the first penalty shot of Harrison’s career but he’s been also good in his own end.
“I thought he was our best defenceman,” said Lewgood. “Defensively he was excellent and offensively he chipped in with that penalty shot goal. He just made good reads all night and communicated and all around had a good game.”
The Bruins won’t play again until Dec. 30 when they take on the Weyburn Red Wings at 2 p.m. the day before New Year’s Eve.
