ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins are on the brink of elimination after a 5-2 loss to the Melfort Mustangs on Wednesday night at Affinity Place.
Melfort now leads the best-of-seven SJHL quarter-final series 3-1.
For the second straight night, Melfort struck first, thanks to a goal courtesy of Aidyn Hutchinson in the first period. Chase Friedt-Mohr added to the Mustangs' lead eight minutes into the second with a power-play goal. But much like the previous night's Game 3, which the Bruins won 4-3, the Black and Gold rallied, as Ilia Chmelevski scored on a power play, and 19 seconds later, Keagon Little tied the game.
Both teams had opportunities to take the lead with respective power plays, and Melfort hit the post with a man advantage, but the period ended tied at twos.
Nolan Patterson scored 4:26 into the third, and Hutchinson added his second of the game a few minutes later for a 4-2 Mustangs' advantage. Ryan Duguay scored into an empty net with less than two minutes to play in the third.
James Venne had 28 saves for Melfort, and Jackson Miller made 26 stops for the Bruins.
Game 5 is set for Friday night in Melfort.
