With a three-goal lead halfway through the third period, the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins looked like they were on their way to winning back-to-back games to start the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League season.
Alas, a stunning collapse followed, as the Bruins allowed the Melville Millionaires to score three times in 10 minutes en route to a 4-3 overtime loss Friday.
Kelvin Walz capped the comeback just 10 seconds into overtime when his pass attempt deflected off a Bruins defenceman and past goaltender Matt Gibney.
Estevan had won 4-2 on Thursday in Melville in the first game on the SJHL slate this year.
Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood said his team started to lose control in the second frame, when Gibney managed to stop all 15 shots fired his way.
"I think in the second period we were taking stupid penalties and being on the wrong side of the puck and losing 50-50 battles. Luckily, our penalty kill was good in the second and it kinda staved them off for awhile, but a team that's as hungry as they were, you can only do that for so long and it showed late. We just didn't play a 60-minute game and it cost us," Lewgood said.
The Bruins took four penalties in the second period and although the Mils' only power play goal came in the third, Lewgood said the constant penalty killing still took its toll.
"You lose momentum when you take stupid penalties. It's easier to kill the ones that are good, hard-fought penalties, but we took some undisciplined ones. Whether you kill them or not, you've got guys sitting on the bench that don't play on the penalty kill and the guys that do, maybe they get tired."
Following a spectacular fireworks display as part of the pre-game ceremony, the Bruins started in ideal fashion, getting two goals from newly named captain Tanner Froese in the first period.
First, Froese converted on a power play rebound nine minutes in, moments after linemate Austin Daae was robbed on the doorstep.
Less than two minutes later, Froese rocketed a shot from the side boards that beat Mils netminder Richard Palmer top shelf.
He was picking up where he left off the night before in Melville, where he posted two goals and two assists in the victory.
"I've got a bigger role this year, so they're expecting a lot more from me. My game's definitely stepped up because of it," said Froese, who added that he enjoys playing with Daae.
"He always seems to get you the puck wherever you are and things are going well for us right now."
Lewgood said Froese's play in the first two games reflected the letter on his jersey.
"We're a simple hockey team, we're not going to play a real fancy game plan and (Froese is) the leader that way. He plays every shift simple and does the right thing, makes good decisions, and I thought him and Nolan Nicholas, another guy who does the same thing, were probably our two most consistent players in games one and two."
The second period was scoreless, despite being dominated by the Mils at times, including a lengthy 5-on-3. Lewgood had high praise for Gibney's performance.
"I thought Gibney was awesome. He would've liked to have that last one back, but I reminded the guys of the first period when he stopped a 2-on-0 and some of the other plays he made. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have been in overtime. We would've lost in regulation. We wouldn't have that point."
The Bruins added to their lead early in the third period, as rookie defenceman Carter Forsyth fired a shot and Darcy DeRoose was there to put in the rebound.
Brady Constant got the Mils on the board with a power play goal at 9:40 of the third, and that would open the floodgates.
Then with 3:31 to play, Landon Farrell flew down the left wing, cut in front and found the back of the net to close the deficit to one.
The tying marker came with 26.6 seconds to go, with T.J. Reeve tipping a shot home to force overtime.
"I think we just let our foot off the gas a little bit. We had them in the first couple, but we gave up a little bit near the end. We just gotta play a full 60," said Nicholas, a rookie defender who was paired with fellow 18-year-old Zach Douglas in the first two games.
Although it was a disheartening way to lose in their home opener, the Bruins' special teams were strong Friday and that gives them something positive to build on.
"I thought our power play looked relatively good. Our special teams are working fairly well, especially considering the time of year. The penalty kill was good, the guys worked hard on the kill," said Lewgood. "It's tough to see some of the positives right now but I'm sure when we reflect and watch the video, we'll see some of that stuff.
"The biggest thing for us is we gotta be more consistent. We gotta play hard every shift and not have letdowns like we had (Friday)."
Melville outshot Estevan 39-26 on the night.
Froese and the power play were also central figures in the win on Thursday.
Froese scored an unassisted marker just shy of the seven-minute mark, although the Mils would take the lead before the end of the period, with Reeve and Alex Devillier tallying power play goals in the second half of the frame.
Froese scored again, this time with the man advantage, only 2:34 into the second.
The Bruins added two more power play goals in the third, courtesy of Daae at 8:57 and DeRoose with 45 seconds left.
"It was good to get a win, obviously, especially on the road," Lewgood said. "Melville's a team hungry to prove themselves and we're a lot alike. We're a little older team than they are, but teams on the rebound and working our way uphill. I think our experience got the better of them (on Thursday), we were able to outlast them, and (Friday) was the opposite. I think they were hungry and they wanted to redeem themselves and they came out here and they outplayed us."
On the injury front, Lewgood said Friday that rookie right winger Lynnden Pastachak would miss at least another week and maybe two with an injury suffered in the pre-season. Left winger Wyatt Garagan (shoulder) was day-to-day.
The Bruins hosted the Melfort Mustangs last night and will visit the Yorkton Terriers on Saturday.
