Mustangs, Hawks split weekend home and home

Mustangs snap Hawks' win streak; points streak remains

Colin Schmidt scored the shootout winner to lead the Melfort Mustangs to a 3-2 shootout win over the Nipawin Hawks in Melfort.

The Feb. 2 Mustangs win put an end to the Hawks’ lengthy winning streak, but the point extended the Hawks’ incredible points streak to 27 games.

The contest got off to a quiet start offensively as neither team found the back of the net in the opening period.

Finally, at the 4:28 mark of period two, Ben Allen scored his second goal as a Mustangs to put the home side ahead 1-0.

The lead did not last very long for the Mustangs, as Austin Mikesch scored his first of two goals on the evening while on the power play at 6:32, sending the game into the second intermission tied at one.

The Mustangs then once again took the lead as Tristen Elder notched his ninth goal of the season, while on the power play, to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead just 1:28 into the final period.

Much like the first goal, the Mustangs were unable to carry the momentum forward as Mikesch found the back of the net for the second time just 1:28 later to tie the score at two,

The game remained tied through the end of regulation and overtime, setting up the shootout.

After Brandan Arnold and Drew Warkentine both scored in the first round of the shootout, Josh McDougall missed for the Hawks, while Schmidt scored for the Mustangs, setting up a must make shot for Grant Baetsen.

Baetsen was unable to find the back of the net, giving the Mustangs the win.

Evan Plotnik picked up the win in the Mustangs goal turning aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced through regulation and overtime, while Declan Hobbs was charged with the loss in the Hawks goal allowing two goals on 28 shots through the end of regulation and overtime.  

Hawks jump on Mustangs early; roll to easy win

One night after watching their winning streak come to an end, the Nipawin Hawks rebounded with a 4-2 win over the Melfort Mustangs in the back half of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League home-and-home series in Nipawin.

The Feb. 3 win saw the Hawks extend their point streak to 28 straight games, one night after the Mustangs snapped the Hawks’ lengthy winning streak.

Looking for revenge after their loss the night before, the Hawks came out of the gates flying as they outshot the Mustangs 23-5 in the opening period.

Despite the lopsided edge in shots, the Hawks were only able to find the back of the net once as Tyler Adams scored his fourth goal since joining the Hawks, while on the power play, to put the home side ahead 1-0 after the first.

The black and gold continued pouring it on in the second as they outshot the Mustangs 12-7 and scored twice, with Brandan Arnold and Adams both finding the back of the net, giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead after two periods of play.

After Chad McCartney scored a short-handed empty net goal to put the Hawks ahead by four, Colin Schmidt scored twice in a span of 29 seconds to cut the Hawks’ lead to 4-2.

Unfortunately, the visitors were unable to pull any closer as the Hawks skated away with the 4-2 win.

Special teams were huge for the Hawks as they finished the evening 3-for-6 with the man advantage, while the Mustangs were 0-for-9, with a shorthanded goal against.

Declan Hobbs picked up the win in the Hawks goal, turning aside 28 of the 30 shots he faced, while Evan Plotnik was charged with the loss for the Mustangs after allowing thee goals on 45 shots as the Mustangs were outshot 46-30.

The Mustangs will look to get back to their winning ways when they return to action on Feb. 7 for a home matchup against the Yorkton Terriers.

Meanwhile, the Hawks will look to push their incredible points streak to 29 straight games, when they welcome they Flin Flon Bombers to the cage on Feb. 6.