Perhaps surprised by their ability to get a few power play goals early, the TS&M Bruins weren't able to keep up their offensive pressure but were able to hold on for a 3-1 win over the Melville Millionaires Sunday afternoon.
The Bruins won only their second game in the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League season but find themselves only a few points out of second place.
As far as Bruins head coach Tom Copeland is concerned, his team took way too many penalties Sunday.
“You can't take that many penalties and generate any momentum,” said Copeland, whose team gave Melville nine chances on the power play, but Melville didn't score on any of them. “Our penalty kill has been better and we've walked about it. Good on our penalty killers tonight for getting the job done.”
Kaden Chrest, Colby Cuddington scored power play goals in the first five minutes of the game, and Turner McMillen added another at 6:43 of the first to give the Bruins the lead.
“We're finally getting traffic to the net,” Copeland said. “We talked a lot to the kids about how the shots have to come in from the outside, and get the traffic to the net and create your opportunities that way. The game changes when you get to the bantam level and you're not going to get that 1-2-3 move type thing and then square up and get your scoring opportunity. You're going to have to create those by shooting through traffic.”
Jackson Miller stopped 24 shots in the Bruins' net.
“He needed that,” Copeland said. “He did what he had to. He probably wants that one goal back to get the shutout but overall, he was solid in there and that's what we need to see.”
The previous night, the Bruins lost 3-1 to the Warman Wildcats. Chrest scored the Bruins' lone goal, with Zane Winter going the distance in net.
“We didn't have the offensive pressure we needed (Saturday) and we didn't really get it (Sunday) either,” said Copeland. “If we can clean up those penalties I think we'll see a lot more offensive opportunities. Our team thrives a little bit five-on-five. Our power play need a lot of work and you saw that five-on-three. We've been focussing so much on defensive hockey. Now we've got to work on our offensive game a little bit.”
Copeland said he thinks the defensive side is cleaning up, but now the quest for goals and offensive chances begins.
The Bruins next game is Wednesday at Weyburn and then have the weekend off.
