The Nipawin Hawks’ incredible points streak is over after the Hawks lost 7-3 to the Melfort Mustangs on home ice.
The loss was the Hawks’ first regulation loss in 31 games, a span of 99 days dating back to a 2-1 loss to the same Mustangs on Nov. 10 in Melfort.
The Mustangs have dominated the season series between the two teams compiling a record of 6-1-1 against the Hawks this season.
The game got off to an excellent start for the Hawks as Grant Baetsen put the home side in front 1-0 just 36 seconds in and Brett Harasymuk extended the lead to two goals with his 16th of the year just five minutes later as the Hawks led 2-0 just 5:36 in.
The Mustangs were unfazed, and began chipping away at the lead as Reed Gunville scored at 7:09, and Justin Ball at 9:35 to pull the Mustangs back into a tie with the Hawks.
The game remained tied until early in the second when Brandan Arnold notched his 28th of the year at the 18 second mark to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead.
The Mustangs took the body blow and immediately punched back as Drew Warkentine tallied his eighth goal of the year at the 59 second mark to pull the Mustangs back into a tie.
That goal seemed to spark the visitors as Tanner Zentner scored a pair and Andrew Thompson the other as the Mustangs stretched out a 6-3 lead over the Hawks after two periods of play.
The Mustangs carried that momentum over into the third where they outshot the Hawks 14-6, as Warkentine scored his second of the game to wrap up the scoring and help the Mustangs skate away with the 7-3 win.
Special teams were busy for both sides as they combined for 17 power plays, with the Hawks finishing 1-for-5 with the man advantage, and the Mustangs 3-for-12.
Evan Plotnik picked up the win in the Mustangs cage turning aside 25 of the 28 shots he faced, while Declan Hobbs was charged with the loss after giving up five goals on 25 shots, before being lifted at the 9:24 mark of period two in favour ofJake Anthony, who turned aside 16 of the 18 shots he faced.
The Mustangs held the edge on the shot clock as they outshot the Hawks 43-28.
