Despite having a challenging schedule last week, the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins earned four points from a trio of games against the SJHL's elite.
The Bruins defeated the Yorkton Terriers twice by a score of 4-3, knocking them off their perch as the top team in the league, before losing 4-2 to the Melville Millionaires on Sunday.
Estevan (14-13-2-2) edged the Terriers at home on Dec. 10 before visiting them on Friday in Yorkton, then heading to Melville two days later.
The two wins over the Terriers also wrapped up the season series between the clubs, with each winning three.
"When you play those guys, it takes a team effort, you gotta get everybody going. (In Estevan) we played a fairly complete game and got a lot of pucks to the net. The game up there, we were able to capitalize on our chances. They were few and far between, but we managed to capitalize on them," said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.
On Friday, Ben Johnstone scored twice in the third period to help the Bruins recover from a 2-0 deficit, and Tanner Froese scored the winner midway through the overtime period.
"We caught them on a bad change. They dumped the puck and didn't get it deep enough in our zone," Lewgood said of the winning goal.
"Froese and (David Robertson) recognized it. Robby made a terrific pass to Froese, he was all alone and he made no mistake."
Johnstone recently returned from a shoulder injury that kept him out for a month, and Lewgood said it was rewarding to see him score a pair of clutch goals.
"Benny had a great game that night. He's a big part of our team and it's nice to get him back."
New acquisition Brett Boehm opened the scoring for the Terriers late in the first period on a power play. The star winger and reigning SJHL rookie of the year was acquired from Flin Flon last week and impressed in his first game with Yorkton.
"He's dangerous. That was our fourth time seeing Brett this year and that was the best I've seen him. He looked revitalized with those guys," Lewgood said.
Kailum Gervais added to the Terriers' lead seven minutes into the second, with Boehm drawing an assist.
The Bruins got on the board eight minutes later on Wyatt Garagan's fourth of the year.
Lewgood said it was important to get some secondary scoring, with players other than Froese and Austin Daae - both sitting top five in league scoring - finding the back of the net.
"You need it. Those guys have been great for us, but at some point, those other guys have got to start chipping in. Johnstone and (Austin) Roesslein have contributed a bit that way lately."
Johnstone tied the game five minutes into the third, but Derek Falloon handed the lead back to Yorkton six minutes later.
It appeared the Terriers would hold on until Johnstone scored again, with only 72 seconds to go.
Yorkton carried the shots 38-23.
The Bruins had a pair of 17-year-old top prospects in the lineup, with defenceman Josh Rieger playing his first SJHL game and forward Chase McKersie playing his fourth.
Lewgood described Rieger's first game as solid.
"He played really well. He fit in just fine and looked like a pro."
In Melville, meanwhile, the Bruins iced just 16 skaters due to a combination of injuries and affiliated players not being available.
The game stayed scoreless through 40 minutes before witnessing six goals in the third. Despite allowing four goals in the final frame,
Lewgood said it was probably the Bruins' best.
"We had a really slow start in the first. I think we're just tired and banged up and we tried to double shift some guys who are maybe a bit banged up this time of year."
The Bruins were outshot 40-26 and Lewgood said the play of netminder Matt Gibney was the biggest reason the game was deadlocked after two.
"We don't plan on hanging with those guys, that's not the plan. We plan on beating them. We didn't play well the first two periods and the reason we were hanging with them is Gibby was playing so well. It wasn't for lack of effort, our guys were tired and banged up."
Melville's Tyson Predinchuk started a busy period for the goal judges just 43 seconds in, giving the hosts the lead.
Bruins defenceman Nolan Nicholas tied it less than two minutes later with his second SJHL goal.
T.J. Constant, who Melville acquired from the OCN Blizzard earlier in the week, gave his new team a 2-1 edge halfway through the period, but Austin Roesslein knotted the score again a minute later with a shorthanded tally.
Just when it appeared overtime was looming, the Mils wrapped up the victory with two late goals. Alec Brandrup lit the lamp on a power play with three minutes left and Lane Harbor added some insurance with 84 seconds to go.
Lewgood said that although his team passed a tough test last week, the Melville loss is disappointing.
"Our goal going in was two out of three, but once we got the first two we should've gotten the third one."
With two games left before Christmas, both at home - last night against the La Ronge Ice Wolves and Friday against the Notre Dame Hounds (7:30 p.m., Affinity Place) -Lewgood said the break comes at a good time for the walking wounded on his club.
"We need to get healthy. Even guys in the lineup are playing injured, tired and sick."
The team is hoping injured winger Lynnden Pastachak and defenceman Brett Blatz will be able to return for the two-game series against Weyburn on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1.
Defenceman Nick Egan is temporarily away from the team for personal reasons, but is also expected to be back for the Weyburn games.
