The Meota Combines suffered their third straight loss Sunday night, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Battleford Beaver Blues at the Civic Centre. Roddy Hoffman and Daulton Poitras both scored twice for Battleford.
The Beaver Blues had the first scoring chance of the game early in the third period. Battleford forward Brent Salzl was sprung on a partial breakaway after a deflection in the neutral zone, but was denied by Combines goaltender Carson Churchman.
Meota opened the scoring less than a minute after Salzl's chance. Combines forward Bo Gervais redirected a centring pass from Brett Miller past Battleford goaltender Mitch Hawtin four minutes into the period.
Following the goal, most of the play was in the Beaver Blues' zone. Hawtin kept the Beaver Blues in the game early, making two big stops to keep Meota's lead at one.
Battleford was able to tie the game shortly before the end of the period. After Combines forward Brody Tatchell was called for boarding with 25 seconds left in the period, Battleford quickly took advantage. Hoffman collected the puck after it hit a Meota defenceman's leg and shot it through Churchman's five hole with 19 seconds to go.
The best chance early in the second came on a Beaver Blues' rush four minutes into the period. The puck was dropped to Battleford defenceman Greg Shury, but Churchman made a nice glove save.
The Beaver Blues broke the 1-1 tie midway through the second. Todd Heck's slap shot from the point was popped in the air by Churchman. Poitras found the rebound and knocked it home to give Battleford a 2-1 lead.
Less than two minutes later, Battleford scored again. Adam Kozlowski protected the puck as he cut around the defence and slid the it past Churchman with 8:32 to go in the second.
The third period did not get off to a great start for the Combines. Poitras' shot from just over the red line found its way through Churchman to give the Beaver Blues a 4-1 lead. Churchman was pulled after the goal and Chris Honig took the net for the Combines.
Meota had a couple of scoring chances shortly after the Beaver Blues' goal. Brody Tatchell's shot hit Hawtin in the shoulder. Tatchell was convinced the puck was going in and started to raise his arms to celebrate scoring.
The rebound rolled through the crease but did not cross the goal line. Later, Taylor Tatchell hit the post after Dayne Iverson dropped the puck back to the Combines forward.
Brody Tatchell finally solved Hawtin with 13 minutes to play. Tatchell's shot found the back of the net after hitting the post and cut the lead to 4-2.
The Combines kept up the pressure, but the Beaver Blues put the game away with less than five minutes to play. Hoffman redirected Travis Keller's point shot past Honig on the power play with 4:48 to play in the game.
Hawtin stopped 27 of 29 shots in the win for the Beaver Blues (6-3). Churchman was awarded the loss for Meota (6-4).
