The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins captured the first two games of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) quarter-final series against the Yorkton Terriers.
The Bruins defeated the Terriers 2-1 in overtime in Game 1 on Friday night at Affinity Place, and the following night, they rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the third period to beat the Terriers 5-3 in Yorkton.
Game 3 was slated for Tuesday night at Affinity Place. (Results were not available at press time). Game 4 will be Wednesday night in Yorkton.
The Bruins came out strong in Game 1, with Matt McNeil scoring a power play goal 6:14 into the first period to give his team a 1-0 advantage. A few minutes later, Bruin goaltender Nathan Alalouf stopped Yorkton’s Carson Welke on a penalty shot.
The Bruins had other chances to score, but couldn’t convert.
The Terriers bounced back in the second and third periods, but they couldn’t beat Alalouf until late in the third, when Jared Legien scored with 64 seconds to play.
“I thought the team played well early on, and we had a bit of a letdown, but they answered the bell late,” said head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood.
The Bruins recovered, though, and Zach Goberis scored the winner 42 seconds into overtime.
Forward Jason Miller said they didn’t panic after Legien scored so late in the third, and they wanted to come out strong for overtime.
“We have the maturity with the guys in the room to be able to come back from anything, so going into that overtime period, we were telling ourselves that we need to do everything we can to get that win,” said Miller.
Jake Fletcher scored 48 seconds into Game 2 to give the Bruins the early advantage, but goals by LJ Naccarato and Cody Dubas gave Yorkton a 2-1 lead before the six-minute mark.
McNeil’s second of the series with 27 seconds remaining in the first tied the game.
“Everybody was squeezing the sticks a little bit, trying to do too much, and it’s easy to get away from the game plan, when you want so badly to win and to contribute,” said Lewgood.
Legien picked up his second of the series 96 seconds into the middle frame to give Yorkton a 3-2 lead, which stood up until six minutes into the third, when Miller tied the game.
It appeared the game would be headed to overtime for the second straight night but Michael McChesney scored with 1:54 to play to give the Bruins the lead, and Miller added his second of the game into an empty net 65 seconds later.
“Our guys embraced the simplicity factor of our game plan, and when you do that, combined with the same work ethic that we’ve been seeing, it’s a good recipe,” said Lewgood.
“We simplified the game, and continued to work hard and push, and it paid off. We dominated the third period as much as we’ve dominated a period in months.”
Miller added the players wanted to come out in the third and show Yorkton their full potential.
“I don’t think they’ve seen the best that we had throughout the entire series so far, so we wanted to give them a taste of what it’ll be like in Game 3,” said Miller.
Miller said the Terriers have played the tough, physical, hard-working game the Bruins expected.
Lewgood also praised Alalouf, who stopped 29 shots in Game 1 and 34 in Game 2.
“Nathan Alalouf has probably been our best player through two games,” said Lewgood. “He’s seen his fair share of quality scoring chances against.”
