The Melfort Mustangs are heading into the playoffs, but not necessarily the way they wanted to be.
The Mustangs lost their final game of the regular season giving up two third period goals, including one with 34 seconds to play, as the Mustangs blew a 3-2 lead, losing 4-3 to the Flin Flon Bombers at an away game on March 6.
The Mustangs, who have known for a couple of weeks that they will have home ice advantage and be playing Humboldt in the first round, elected to rest a number of regulars.
Among the Mustangs filling in for the regulars were Jordan Dasko and Zack Smith, both of whom made their SJHL debuts.
While the young guns were getting a taste of SJHL hockey, it was the vets who led the way for the Mustangs as Drew Warkentine finished with a goal and two assists, and Rock Ruschkowski added the other in the loss.
Kayle Tosh chipped in with two assists for the Mustangs, while Reed Gunville and Loch Morrison each notched one assist.
Brandson Hein responded with two goals, including the game winner, and an assist to lead the Bombers in scoring.
Chrystopher Collin and Nate Hooper each added two assists, while Ben Lanfermann and Rob Johnson rounded out the scoring for the Bombers.
Special teams were a major concern for the Mustangs as they failed to score on four chances with the man advantage, giving up one shorthanded goal, while the Bombers finished the evening 2-for-4.
Lanfermann got the Bombers on the board first with his eighth of the year, before the Mustangs took over.
Ruschkowski and Warkentine both added first period goals as the Mustangs took an early lead.
Hein pulled the Bombers back into a tie, but Warkentine’s second of the game with ten seconds remaining in period two gave the Mustangs a 3-2 lead.
The Bombers pushed back in the third getting goals from Johnson while shorthanded and Hein in the final minute.
Hunter Arps was charged with the loss in the Mustangs goal, giving up four goals on 35 shots as the Mustangs were outshot 35-30.
With the regular season now over for the Mustangs, the blue and green will enjoy a ten-day break before returning to action for their SJHL quarterfinal series against the Humboldt Broncos, with game one of the series coming March 16 in Melfort.
