Eddie Gallagher had a season-high four-point night, and the Estevan Bruins continued to strengthen their grip on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) in a 6-2 win over the Notre Dame Hounds Friday night at Affinity Place.
Jared Hamm scored a short-handed goal less than six minutes into the first period to give the Hounds a 1-0 lead. Brady Nicholas tied the game with less than six minutes remaining in the frame.
Markers by Troy Hamilton and Tyler Savage 1:42 apart in the final two minutes of the opening frame gave the Bruins a 3-1 lead through one.
Gallagher was impressed with how his teammates responded after surrendering the early goal.
“I feel like that really shows how much we’ve matured over the course of the season,” said Gallagher. “We used to just sit on our heels during that and get down on ourselves, but we did a good job of … taking it to them.”
Notre Dame’s Sho Takai scored another short-handed goal eight minutes into the second to pull the Hounds to within one. It was the Hounds first shot on goal in the period, and gave the Hounds some life for the rest of the middle frame.
But goals by Cody Davis and Gallagher 3:05 apart in the first half of the third helped the Bruins pull away. Gallagher’s goal came on a two-on-one rush.
“I think everyone in the stadium thought I was going to pass on that one,” said Gallagher.
The Hounds had a glimmer of hope in the final six minutes of the third when they had a two-man advantage for two minutes, but Bruin goaltender Keenan Rancier kept them at bay.
Dain Sardelli scored into an empty net in the final minute to finish the scoring.
Keenan Rancier stopped 32 shots for the victory.
Gallagher, who assisted on the Bruins first, second and fourth goals, now has 18 points in his last 13 games.
“My linemates and teammates did a good job of getting open, and they did a good job of finishing today,” said Gallagher.
The Bruins (20-18-3-1) remain in the SJHL’s eighth and final playoff spot, and now have 44 points, seven points more than ninth place Kindersley; the Bruins still have a game in hand.
Estevan is now just two points behind the Humboldt Broncos for seventh in the overall standings, and have two games in hand. Estevan and Humboldt will meet Jan. 25 at Affinity Place, starting at 7:30 p.m.
