Forced to run the gauntlet against three tough opponents, the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins came home with one win from a weekend road trip.
The highlight of the weekend was a 7-6 shootout victory over the Battlefords North Stars on Saturday, which saw the Bruins come back from trailing 5-1 after the first period.
That game was bookended by 5-1 losses to the Kindersley Klippers on Friday and Humboldt Broncos on Sunday.
Bruins head coach Chris Lewgood said he had "mixed emotions" about his team's performance. He said the loss to Kindersley was disappointing, the Battlefords win was "one of the best of the year" and the team had nothing left in the tank for Sunday's game.
The contest in Humboldt had playoff implications, as the Bruins and Broncos are battling for the sixth spot in the SJHL, which would allow them to bypass the survivor series.
The Bruins (24-17-3-5) are now two points behind the Broncos with seven games left.
"Unfortunately, at this point, we need a little help. It'd be nice to have our own fate in our hands, but we blew that (Sunday)," Lewgood said. "We think we're going to finish in sixth place."
For the last two games of the trip, the Bruins were missing key centres Austin Roesslein, who hurt his ankle Feb. 1 against Flin Flon, and Jason Duret, who was suspended two games for a boarding major on Friday. Lewgood said that took its toll in Humboldt.
"We were short-manned. Playing the way we did Friday and Saturday, we just didn't have anything left."
David Miazga opened the scoring for the Broncos less than five minutes into the first period on Sunday. His second goal midway through the second put the hosts up 2-0.
Less than three minutes later, Broncos forward Matthew Audette extended the lead.
The Bruins got on the board 14 minutes in on a power play goal by Ben Johnstone.
The Broncos put it away in the third period, as Kyle Oleniuk scored twice in a span of three minutes to put them ahead by four.
Matt Gibney made 35 saves for Estevan, while former Bruins prospect Ryland Pashovitz stopped 25 for Humboldt.
Against the North Stars, the Bruins found themselves in a seemingly insurmountable hole after the first period, trailing by four goals and outshot 24-7.
Jake McMillen and Bruins captain Tanner Froese traded early goals, but it was all Stars after that, with Igor Leonenko scoring twice in the period and Dillon Forbes and Nick Fountain adding singles.
Lewgood said the major difference in the period was the Stars finishing all their chances.
"It wasn't really a case of a bad first period effort-wise, there were some glaring mistakes that left them quality scoring chances. They were able to convert on every opportunity they got, it seemed," he said.
"I think our guys sensed that. I think our guys realized we were playing right with them, despite what the score clock said, and we had tons of chances we weren't able to convert."
Froese scored again five minutes into the second and Lewgood said that early marker gave his team a confidence boost.
Corey Kosloski netted a power play goal a minute later, and Austin Daae got his club within one with the man advantage halfway through the period.
Keegan Allison tied the game late in the period, though Stars forward Cam Blair replied a minute later to give his team a 6-5 lead heading to the third.
Johnstone forced overtime with a shorthanded goal with six minutes to go in regulation. Daae scored the shootout winner in the fourth round.
"Saturday's game was one of the best of the year, despite allowing six goals," said Lewgood. "I thought we played really well. It was our hardest game of the season. They were able to capitalize on all their opportunities, it seemed, and we showed a lot of character coming back."
Froese missed the second half of the game after having a few teeth knocked out.
Brett Lewchuk started for the Bruins, but was pulled 10 minutes in after allowing three goals on 13 shots. Gibney came in and stopped 31 of 34 shots the rest of the way.
Michael Gudmandson made 29 saves for Battlefords.
On Friday, the Bruins scored the lone goal in the first, courtesy of Froese, but the Klippers dominated from that point on.
"We didn't really give ourselves a chance against Kindersley. We had lost assignments, underachieving effort levels, we just didn't really give ourselves a chance. We didn't go after them the way we should have," Lewgood said.
"As soon as they scored a couple, we kinda went into a shell and I think lost confidence. We just didn't have a strong mental game."
Devin Case and Conner Veroba scored 45 seconds apart early in the second period, followed by a shorthanded marker from Connor Garden with two seconds left in the frame.
In the third, the Klippers got another shorthanded goal from Shaun MacPherson, followed by a late tally by Cody Young.
Shots on goal were 51-35 for the Klippers, with Gibney stopping 46 shots.
"We had a lot of scoring chances in the Kindersley game that we weren't able to convert on. Their goaltender made some tremendous saves," Lewgood said. "We just didn't create enough consistency in our play."
The Bruins host the Notre Dame Hounds tomorrow and the Klippers on Saturday. Both games are at 7:30 p.m. at Affinity Place.
The team is hoping to have Roesslein back for tomorrow's game.
