Third period the difference as Mustangs lose to Bombers
Three goals against in the third period sunk the Melfort Mustangs as they dropped a 6-4 decision to the Flin Flon Bombers in the front half of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League home-and-home series at home.
The Feb. 9 contest saw the Mustangs give up three third period markers, turning a 3-3 second period tie into the 6-4 loss.
The contest got off to an excellent start for the home side as Kalem Zary found the back of the net for his eighth goal of the season, just 1:51 into the opening period.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs, they could not hold onto the lead as Chrystopher Collin scored his 21st of the year during a power play to send the game into the first intermission tied at one.
After a quiet opening ten minutes, the teams exploded for four goals in a span of 7:28.
Nate Hooper drew first blood in the second, scoring his 16th of the year, to give the Bombers their first lead of the hockey game.
Just over a minute later, Colin Schmidt responded for the Mustangs scoring his 20th of the year, and just over a minute after that Beau Stevenson scored his first career SJHL goal, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead in a span of 2:41.
Much like in the first period, the Mustangs could not get out of the period with the lead as Ethan Daniels beat Evan Plotnik to send the game into the second intermission tied at three.
The final period got off to an ugly start for the Mustangs as Collin scored his second of the night just ten seconds into the period.
Brandson Hein added his fifth of the year less than four minutes later, giving the Bombers a 5-3 lead.
Needing to change the momentum, Trevor Blevins, the Mustangs' head coach, made a goaltending change, lifting Plotnik in favour of Hunter Arps.
The switch seemed to light a spark under the Mustangs as Schmidt scored his second of the game at 9:35.
Unfortunately for the Mustangs, they were unable to find the equalizer, despite holding a 16-8 edge in shots, as Hooper iced the game with his second of the night into an empty net, giving the Bombers the win.
Plotnik was charged with the loss in the Mustangs goal, allowing five goals on 21 shots, while Arps stopped all five shots he faced in relief as the Mustangs outshot the Bombers 38-27.
Mustangs flip script, score three in third in win over Bombers
The Melfort Mustangs bounced back from a disappointing loss to beat the Flin Flon Bombers 6-3 in the back half of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League home-and-home series at an away game.
The Mustangs’ Feb. 10 win came one night after the Mustangs gave up three third period goals, turning a 3-3 tie into a 6-4 loss.
The Mustangs flipped the script on the Bombers in this matchup as they gave them a taste of their own medicine, scoring three in the third to turn a 3-3 tie into a 6-3 win.
Needing a response, the Mustangs came out focused and ready to go and were rewarded early as Drew Warkentine put home his seventh goal of the season, giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead just 6:56 into the opening frame.
The visitors continued their onslaught and were rewarded again as Reed Gunville fired his tenth goal of the season past Bombers netminder Brenden Newton to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead just 10:35 in.
After Brandson Hein scored to cut the Mustangs’ lead back to one, Ben Allen scored his first of two on the evening, with just nine seconds to play, giving the Mustangs a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
After a solid opening 20 minutes, the Mustangs sat back in the second and were punished for it as Calvon Boots and Nate Hooper both found the back of the net, sending the game into the third period tied at three.
The visitors came out fresh and refocused for the third and it paid off as Loch Morrison, Gunnville and Allen all found the back of the net to give the Mustangs the 6-3 win.
It was a particularly excellent effort for the Mustangs special teams as they went 1-for-4 with the man advantage and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill, with three shorthanded goals for.
Evan Plotnik bounced back from a tough night, the night prior, turning aside 24 of the 27 shots he faced for his 21st win of the season as the Mustangs outshot the Bombers 31-27.
If the two teams have not seen enough of each other already they certainly will have after Friday, as the Mustangs’ next contest comes on Feb. 16 when they welcome the Bombers to town for their third straight game against their Manitoban rivals.
