The defense continues to be a work in progress for the Melfort Mustangs but they are continuing to improve as they finished the week with a 1-0-0-1 record.
“It’s getting where it needs to be and we’re pretty happy with the week we had,” said Trevor Blevins, the Mustangs’ head coach.
“I think we’re turning the corner and we’re hoping to after Christmas make a push in the playoffs.”
Against Estevan
The Mustangs kicked off their week on Dec. 8 as they welcomed the Estevan Bruins to town.
The game got off to a rough start for the Mustangs as they were outshot 16-8 and gave up the period’s only goal.
The second period did not start any better for the Mustangs as they gave up a power play goal just 1:34 in and gave up another power play goal at the 13:22 mark.
Down 3-0, the Mustangs pushed back as Reed Gunville and Kalem Zary scored to cut the Mustangs deficit to 3-2 in a period where they outshot the Bruins 24-7.
The third period was very even with the Bruins outshooting the Mustangs 8-7, with the Mustangs scoring the period’s only goal off the stick of Rock Ruschkowski with 20 seconds left in the game, sending the game to overtime tied at three.
After a scoreless overtime period the game went into a shootout, which lasted six rounds as the Bruins escaped with a 4-3 win.
Derrick Hucul started the game for the Mustangs making four saves on five shots before being replaced in goal by Evan Plotnik who turned aside 26 shots in regulation and overtime.
Despite the loss, Blevins was pleased with the way his team played, especially against a top team like Estevan.
“We showed a lot of resiliency to tie it up late.”
Against Weyburn
The Mustangs enjoyed a day off before wrapping up their week on Dec. 10 as the Weyburn Red Wings visited the Northern Lights Palace.
The Mustangs jumped out of the gate quickly as Dakota Boutin scored his 13th of the season on the power play at 10:45 and Adam Hergott scored a power play goal of his own less than a minute later as the Mustangs took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
The second period did not go so well for the Mustangs as they were outshot 17-9 in the period and gave up three goals, with Andrew Thompson scoring once for the Mustangs on the power play sending the game into the final frame tied at three.
The Mustangs rebounded with a fantastic third period as they outshot the Red Wings 15-9 but they could not find the back of the net as the game went to overtime.
In the extra session Gunville scored his fourth goal as a Mustang just 1:50 into the period to give the Mustangs a 4-3 win.
The Mustangs dominated the special teams battle in the game as they finished 3/6 on the power play, while killing all seven Red Wings power plays.
Blevins noted that the effort of his special teams played a big role in the Mustangs coming away with two points, noting that he was not particularly pleased with the Mustangs’ first two periods.
“We got fortunate on the power play to score three.”
While he was not pleased with the first two periods Blevins said he was very pleased with how the Mustangs responded in the third.
“There was no scoring in the third period but I thought it was our best period as far as how we competed and played with an edge. So I thought we did a great job getting into overtime and then to be able to get it done I thought that was what we deserved.”
Plotnik was solid in goal for the Mustangs turning aside 33 shots to pick up his tenth win of the season.
With the 1-0-0-1 week the Mustangs improve their record to 13-14-1-4 on the season and move into ninth place in the league standings, just six points behind the Weyburn Red Wings for fifth, with two games in hand.
Next week
Looking ahead the Mustangs wrap up the pre-Christmas portion of their schedule with a trio of road games this week as they visit Melville on Dec. 13, Yorkton on Dec. 14 and Humboldt on Dec. 17.
With Christmas coming Blevins said it will be important for the team to keep it fun and keep it light, saying it will help that they will be on the road.
“That’s always good to get the guys together. And so we’re hoping for three good efforts here to finish it off and get a nice ten-day break to get refocused, reenergized.”
