The Estevan Bruins dropped a pair of 2-1 decisions against the Weyburn Red Wings in a home and home series on the weekend.
In Friday night's game in Weyburn, Brady Nicholas had Estevan's lone goal 16 minutes into the first period. The goal tied the game at 1-1. The score remained tied until late in the third, when former Bruin Nikolas Sombrowski scored the winner with 21 seconds to play.
“We just had a net-front battle, and our guys are fishing for pucks. One guy came around (the net),” said head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.
Mathieu Belanger had Weyburn's other goal.
Saturday night's game was decided in overtime. The Bruins appeared to take the lead in the opening minute of the first period on a redirection by Kolton Leslie, but it was waived off for a high stick.
Weyburn took the lead late in the first period on a power play goal by Ben Hiltz.
Devan Harrison’s power play marker tied the game late in the second. His point shot found a way through traffic in front of the net.
Harrison said it was the type of goal the team needs to generate more often.
“Lots of times we’re putting pucks on net and there are rebounds, but nobody’s there, or we’re shooting straight into the goalie with no tips or anything,” said Harrison. “Once we get better around the net we’ll score more.”
Neither team scored in the third, although the Bruins outshot the Wings 10-5, after outshooting the Wings 13-5 in the middle frame.
Hiltz scored the winner for Weyburn midway through overtime.
Keenan Rancier was in goal both nights. He stopped 36 shots on Friday and 20 on Saturday.
Harrison doesn’t believe there is an issue in the matchup with the Red Wings; rather, he thinks the problem lies with the Bruins themselves.
“We’ve been having trouble scoring all year. Two games and two goals is not enough to win. I don’t think it’s just them (Weyburn); I just think we need to be better all-round, and against every team we need to start scoring.”
Lewgood said Saturday’s game was a much better effort for the Bruins, and they were better in all aspects of the game, but they couldn't convert on their chances.
“When that happens, you let the other team hang around, especially a gutty team like that,” said Lewgood. “They wanted it, and they found a way.”
Estevan played with speed, made good decisions with the puck, and they competed hard, according to Lewgood.
“I thought we won a lot of battles, right from the faceoff dot to half-wall battles. Our forecheck was good. I thought we won most of the battles that we had the opportunity to win tonight, whereas last night we didn’t win many battles,” said Lewgood.
He agreed with Harrison that the team’s problems with scoring against Weyburn stem from their own internal issues.
“I don’t think we have that creativity and that nose for scoring, that natural scoring ability,” said Lewgood. “We have to defend really well and we have to play better defensively.”
Estevan’s roster currently stands at 27 players, including 17 forwards. Lewgood said the club needs to trim the roster quickly, well before the Dec. 1 deadline to have rosters at 25 players.
The Bruins record is 4-8-2-1. Their next game is Wednesday night at home against the Humboldt Broncos. Game time is 7 p.m.
