Game 1
A sleepy five minute stretch in the second period had the Melfort Mustangs in an early hole as they dropped Game 1 of their best of five Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League survivor series 4-1 against the Notre Dame Hounds.
After getting out of the first period of the March 10 away game tied at one, the Mustangs started the second period terribly slow, giving up three goals in 3:27, before the period was six minutes old.
The rest of the period did not go much better for the Mustangs as they failed to generate any offense mustering just three shots, to the Hounds’ ten and went into the third period trailing 4-1.
Tanner Zentnerscored the lone goal of the game for the Mustangs, who got a 25 save performance out of goalie Evan Plotnik in the loss.
After struggling on the power play in recent weeks the Mustangs managed a goal on two opportunities, and limited a dangerous Hounds offense to just one goal on four power plays.
Coming into the series shutting down the Hounds’ top line of Chaz Smedsrud, Ben Duperreault, and Adam Dawe was a key for the Mustangs. However, they were unable to do so in the game one loss as the star line was involved in three of the four Hounds goals and finished the evening with two goals and four assists combined.
The two teams returned to Melfort the following evening for Game 2 of the series.
Game 2
The Melfort Mustangs used a huge three goal third period outburst to level their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff series at a game with a 4-2 win on home ice
After giving up a power play goal in the final minute of the second period of the March 1 game to trail 2-1 heading into the third, the Mustangs wasted little time taking momentum away from the Hounds.
Carson Albrechtscored his first career SJHL playoff goal just 45 seconds into the period, Dakota Boutin added his first of the playoffs at 13:22 on the power play andJustin Ball scored his second of the game into the empty net as the Mustangs completed the comeback.
The Mustangs found themselves behind 1-0 after the first period, where the game stood until Ball scored his first career SJHL playoff goal shorthanded at 8:53 of the second.
Smedsrud put the Hounds back on top with the late second period goal, before the Mustangs mounted the comeback.
Ball wrapped up the night with two goals and one assist to lead all scorers on either team and Plotnik turned aside 19 of the 21 shots he faced to pick up his first win of the playoffs.
After a day off, the two teams traveled back down Highway #6 for Game 3 of the best of five series.
Game 3
Special teams let the Melfort Mustangs down in Game 3 of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League playoff series against the Notre Dame Hounds as they lost 4-1.
The Mustangs finished the evening in Wilcox on March 13 0/7 on the power play, while the Hounds scored twice on six opportunities in the win.
The Hounds opened the scoring with an even strength goal just 6:04 into the game but the Mustangs responded with a goal of their own as Tyler Heidt scored his first career SJHL playoff goal to send the game into the second period tied at one.
The Hounds added a second period power play goal off the stick of Duperreault and a third period power play goal off the stick of Dawe.
Dawe wrapped up the scoring with an empty net goal in the final minute in the win.
Just like in Game 1, the line of Smedsrud, Duperreault and Dawe caused havoc on the Mustangs as they were involved in all four Hounds goals, and finished the night with three goals, and six assists.
Reed Gunvilleand Boutinadded assists on the Heidt goal, and Plotnik turned aside 20 of the 23 shots he faced in the loss.
Game 4 of the series was set for March 14 with the Mustangs facing a must win to keep their season alive.
