The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins have turned the page on their 6-1 road win over the Weyburn Red Wings at Crescent Point Place on Friday.
Bruins right wing Matt McNeil, who scored two goals, recorded an assist and dropped the gloves with Red Wings defenceman Mike Eskra in the victory, said the Wings (4-3-0-1) came out hard and the expectation is they’ll be even stronger tonight when the Black and Gold welcomes their Highway 39 rivals to Affinity Place for the return game. He said they’re going to have to match and exceed the Wings intensity once again to get the win and add to their Viterra Division points lead.
“They’re going to be more disciplined and they’re going to work harder, so I think on that side of things they’re going to provide more opposition,” added Chris Lewgood, head coach and general manager of the 5-1-0-1 Bruins. “It should be a heated game again and our guys are going to have to work hard.”
The Bruins jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead at Crescent Point Place with Jason Miller lighting the lamp 45 seconds into the contest. McNeil, on the man advantage, and Jake Fletcher followed suit over the next 17 minutes to make the score 3-0 after the first period. After Jacob Wozney brought the Wings to within two a little under four minutes into the middle frame, McNeil and Zach Goberis quickly replied with power-play markers. Kaelan Holt scored the final goal of the match 2:58 into the third period while the Bruins enjoyed another five-on-four advantage.
“It was a nasty game,” said Lewgood. “The level of intensity was up right from the drop of the puck and I thought our guys did a good job of managing emotions and focusing on the game plan.”
McNeil said Bruins veterans Josh Rieger and Lynnden Pastachak reminded the team before last week’s game that any time on ice against the Wings will be a battle. He said it may have been his first game in the storied rivalry, but it didn’t take long to understand that was exactly the case.
“It’s a war out there,” said McNeil, noting he expects their next nine regular season games with the Wings including tonight to be just as tough. “It’s exciting. It’s going to carry on throughout the whole season and there is going to be a lot of fun hockey being played.”
Bruins notes...Right wing Cole Rooney suffered a broken fibula against the Wings and he will be wearing a cast for at least the next three weeks. Alameda's Jayden Davis joined the Bruins on Monday after being sent down by the WHL's Lethbridge Hurricanes. Davis, 16, suited up at left wing for three Hurricanes pre-season games and two regular season contests recording one assist.
