The CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins won two of their first three games after the Christmas break, and despite losing the third, they were happy with their effort.
The Bruins fell 4-0 to the Kindersley Klippers on Friday at Affinity Place. Earlier in the week, they swept a home-and-home series against the Weyburn Red Wings, winning 6-2 on Dec. 30 and 3-2 in a shootout on Thursday.
The Bruins (12-18-1-5) are in third place in the Viterra Division, one point ahead of the Yorkton Terriers, who have two games in hand.
On Friday, the Bruins outshot the Klippers 42-30, but couldn't convert on their chances.
"I think we outshot them for the whole game and I actually think we outchanced them, believe it or not. They capitalized on their opportunities better than we did tonight. We (played) against a good team that buries their opportunities and (has) a goaltender that limits yours. (Evan) Weninger was outstanding tonight. We made mistakes that cost us, but I thought we played pretty well. You can't play better and lose the game 4-0, you know what I mean? It's one of those games where you just gotta put it behind you," said Bruins head coach Chris Lewgood.
"We've gotta learn from our mistakes here. There were mental breakdowns that cost us, and to be an elite team in this league, you're going to have to learn how to beat the other elite teams. We're a ways away from that right now and it showed tonight. 4-0 is 4-0, whether you work hard and get chances or not."
Kindersley's Marc Dubeau opened the scoring in the final minute of the first period, putting in a rebound after a turnover by Charlie Manley.
Eight minutes into the second, Landon Gross beat Bruins starter Tyler Gutenberg from the slot to make it 2-0.
Shaun MacPherson ripped a high wrist shot from the point into the net seven minutes later.
Hayden-James Berra rounded out the scoring 98 seconds into the third on a scramble in front of the net.
"I thought we could've gone a little harder to the net and we could have been a little better on the walls in the D zone. Those were two things that I thought we lacked today as far as effort and determination. We just gotta be willing to get a little grittier, get a little nastier and make things happen," said Lewgood.
Jason Duret missed the game with an injury and is considered day-to-day.
On Thursday, Weyburn scored first late in the second period when Manley lost the puck in the neutral zone and Brendan McKay fed Braden Mellon on a 2-on-1 the other way.
Seven minutes into the third, Duret sent a behind-the-back centring pass to Lynnden Pastachak and he banged it home to tie the game.
At the 12:33 mark, McKay put in a rebound on a power play to put Weyburn back on top.
However, barely three minutes later, Bruins defenceman Josh Rieger forced overtime with a power play goal of his own.
"The puck went deep and (Kurt) Sonne came around the net and found me in the slot. I was backing up to get out of there. I was a little too far in. He found me and it went off the Red Wing's stick and got in the top of the net somehow, some way," Rieger said.
"We all stayed positive on the bench. We knew we weren't out of it until the buzzer goes. They are a good team, but we can play with them, we can play better than them. It just depends how we come, and we came tonight, that's for sure."
Zach Douglas scored the shootout winner.
"The points were very important in this game. It was disappointing to give up one, but the bottom line is the guys showed a lot of courage and resiliency in coming back," said Lewgood.
"There was no question in our room, everybody understands how important these games are here against the divisional teams, and against Weyburn specifically. I think you could feel it in the building today. I think there was a lot of tension in the air and excitement. It seemed like a playoff atmosphere almost, and that results from the importance of the game," he added.
"We did a lot of things well. I think we made some mental mistakes and had some breakdowns, but I thought overall we worked really hard and controlled the puck very well. We did a lot of good things with the puck. Ultimately, we should shoot the puck a little more, but we got some quality pucks to the net. I think we could have done maybe a little better job of banging in some rebounds."
Shots on goal were 40-33 for Weyburn.
Meanwhile, with the SJHL trade deadline coming up on Saturday, Lewgood said he's not expecting to be busy.
"I don't foresee a lot of movement here at the deadline. There's been lots done already and there's going to be some off-season activity. Sure, we'd like to improve our team if something came up, but as far as the guys here, there's not a lot we're looking to send down the road, that's for sure."
He added that despite dealing 20-year-old defenceman David Robertson last month, he is not interested in trading the team's other overagers, forwards R.T. Rice and Wyatt Garagan.
