For the second time in 2020, the Estevan Bruins have been riding on a five-game winning streak.
The Bruins picked up two more lopsided victories, 8-0 over the visiting La Ronge Ice Wolves on Feb. 12 and 5-1 over the host Melville Millionaires on Feb. 14, to extend the winning streak to five.
The Bruins had goals from eight different players in the drubbing of the Ice Wolves. Erik Boers, Cody Davis and Griffin Asham-Moroz scored in the first 10 minutes of the first period of the game to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead. It was also a relatively tame first period, with only two penalties assessed.
Eddie Gallgher scored early in the second to add to the Bruins advantage.
Then in the third, Tanner Manz, Isaiah Thomas, Tyson Manz and Ryder Pierson tallied to give the Bruins the eight-goal lead.
Keenan Rancier stopped 27 shots to get the shutout for Estevan, who outshot La Ronge 52-27.
The game unravelled after Gallagher’s goal, as the two teams would combine for 185 penalty minutes once it became a 4-0 game. La Ronge received 117 of those minutes.
The most significant incident came after Pierson’s goal, when La Ronge goalie Liam McGarva was assessed a match penalty for physical harassment of an official.
McGarva has been suspended 30 days for the incident, meaning the banishment will carry over to the playoffs.
Two nights later, the Bruins came out strong once again, as Caleb Petrie and Gallagher scored less over two minutes apart midway through the first period to give the Bruins a 2-0 advantage after the first period.
Luke Nkwama’s goal 35 seconds into the second cut the deficit in half, but Tyson Manz scored 30 seconds later to restore the two-goal advantage and Devan Harrison tallied before the period was out to leave the Bruins up three.
Tanner Manz finished the scoring with an empty net goal with three minutes to play in the third.
Keenan Rancier stopped 30 shots to earn the victory.
As of Sunday evening, Estevan was in seventh place in the overall standings with 56 points (26-21-3-1). They are one point ahead of the eighth place Humboldt Broncos, with two games in hand.
The Bruins are now in the midst of their final northern road trip of the season, as they will play four times in five nights against Sherwood Division foes. They were slated to play the Melfort Mustangs on Feb. 18. (Results not available at press time).
Then they will visit the Ice Wolves on Feb. 19, the Flin Flon Bombers on Feb. 21 and the Nipawin Hawks on Feb. 22.
