The Melfort Mustangs rode another excellent display on the power play to their third straight win to open up the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season as they knocked off the La Ronge Ice Wolves 3-1 in La Ronge on Sept. 20.
The Mustangs finished the night 2-for-6 with the man advantage, and carried a strong showing on the penalty kill as well where they finished 5-for-5.
Trevor Blevins, the Mustangs’ head coach, was really pleased with the power play, noting the players were making great decisions with the puck.
“We’ve got lots of movement and putting pucks to the net when we can and really just the execution’s been excellent. It’s because of the experience we have and the veteran group.”
The La Ronge Ice Wolves opened the scoring as Jason Bednarski beat Evan Plotnik to put the Ice Wolves ahead 1-0 at 1:25 of the opening period.
The Mustangs responded not long later as Justin Ball scored his second goal in as many games at 5:45 of the first period.
Neither team managed another goal throughout the last 14 plus minutes of the period, and the two teams hit the break tied at one.
The Mustangs took control of the game for good in the second as Tanner Zentner and Jaxon Joseph both tickled the twine to give the Mustangs a 3-1 lead.
That is where the game would stay as neither team found the back of the net in the third.
Overall, Blevins was pleased with how the Mustangs were able to play, aside from a slow start.
“We really recovered after the ten minute mark of the first and really took control.”
Plotnik picked up the win in the Mustangs cage, turning aside 25 of the 26 shots he faced as the Mustangs outshot the Ice Wolves 38-26.
Zentner led the charge offensively for the Mustangs as he picked up a goal and an assist in the win.
The win moved the Mustangs’ record to 3-0 on the season and pushed them into a tie with the Humboldt Broncos for first place in the SJHL.
