The CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins find themselves in a tight spot, squeezed by opponents on all sides.
In one hand, with two games left, the Bruins’ destiny is under their control. One point back of the division-leading Melville Millionaires with a home-and-home series this weekend against the Mils, a pair of wins would launch the Bruins into the playoffs and a bye into the quarter-finals as the Viterra Division leaders.
With two losses, depending on the outcomes of games played by Weyburn (21-24-6-2), Humboldt (22-24-5-2) and La Ronge (20-26-3-5), the Bruins could find their season come to an abrupt end on the outside looking in. For that to happen, La Ronge would need to win both of their remaining games against the Flin Flon Bombers.
Still, it means a lot is riding on the two games this weekend – Friday at Affinity Place and Saturday in Melville – against an opponent the Bruins have played to a 2-4 record so far this season.
The Bruins will need a bounce back effort following Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the Notre Dame Hounds on the road, but the team has the entire week to prepare for the Millionaires.
“You just have to put it behind you. You have to learn from it,” said head coach Chris Lewgood. “The guys have to understand what we could have done differently on the game plan side of things but also learn, and I’m going to keep pounding away that you can’t take nights off.
“It’s a different opponent and we prepare differently for Melville, so we’ll have to go over some of the smaller details and really just have to think about Melville and not about Notre Dame.”
And with playoffs so close on the horizon, Lewgood stressed how important it is to remain focused on the next game in front of them.
“The guys are pretty focused on Melville and what they can do in those two games, and then we’ll start thinking about the playoff games,” he said.
Sunday’s got saw the Bruins get behind just 30 seconds in, and after a 2-1 first period, the Hounds opened up the Bruins with a five-goal second period. Sam Aulie led the way with three goals and assist for the Hounds.
“We just didn’t play well. There are a lot of factors that go into whether it’s a good or bad effort and most of those factors led to bad. There were very few bright spots. It’s hard to see them at this time anyway,” said Lewgood on Monday. “It’s concerning. That should never happen. We need to make sure we follow the plan and work a lot harder.”
Prior to that loss, the Bruins won two straight at home, 5-2 against La Ronge last Wednesday and 7-4 on Friday night when they hosted the Yorkton Terriers. Taylor Ross scored a hat trick in the Friday game.
“You need more than a couple of guys contributing, and his line has been really good. It’s a good example of (secondary scoring),” said Lewgood.
It was Brad Arabia who opened the scoring Friday night at Affinity Place. He knocked one in seven minutes into the first period. Ross scored his first of the game three minutes later assisted by the brothers Duret. For Jason Duret, it was his first of four helpers on the night.
Just 20 seconds later Mahlon Head made it 3-0 and the Bruins carried that lead into the second.
In the second, the Terriers scored back-to-back goals just 12 seconds apart the Bruins exited the period up 5-2.
Fuhr started Friday’s game, stopping 16 of 18 shots through two periods. Gutenberg went in for the third, and Lewgood said Fuhr was suffering no symptoms, but the coach thought it was a good opportunity to give Gutenberg some playing time.
In his first minute of play, the Terriers slipped one past Gutenberg. The goal came on a shot from the point that was deflected fluttering over defenders and past the Bruin goalie who never saw it in the air.
Ross completed his hat trick just five minutes later, and the teams exchanged goals in the final minutes for to make the 7-4 final.
“I thought Friday’s game was really good. I thought we played better than what the score showed. Seven goals is a lot, but I think defensively, the four goals were a poor indicator of how well we played. I thought they had some lucky bounces,” said Lewgood.
Duplicating Friday’s effort rather than Sunday’s will go a long way in determining the Bruins’ immediate future.
“It’s very important. We would be reaching our goal is we win both games. It comes down to those two games. If we win both we met our goal of winning our division,” said Lewgood. “It’s big, but if we don’t then we gotta make the playoffs. If we don’t finish first when we make the playoffs, we gotta deal with the hand we’re dealt.”
