The Estevan Bruins surrendered three goals in the third period in a 5-2 loss to the host Melville Millionaires Friday night in a game between two teams battling for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Melville took a 1-0 lead 23 seconds into the first period when Luke Nkwama scored his first of three goals on the night. The Bruins tied the game on a goal by Brady Nicholas midway through the first, and took a 2-1 advantage 69 seconds into the second on a goal by Isaiah Thomas.
Melville tied the game again when Zach Bannister scored with 7 1/2 minutes to play in the middle frame.
Nkwama gave the Millionaires the lead for good at the 6:49 mark of the third, and added his third of the game late in the third. Rin Beny finished the scoring with an empty net goal with three seconds remaining
Randy Cooke stopped 21 of the 25 shots he faced for the Bruins.
The game against Melville started a stretch of 14 of 15 games in which the Bruins will face division rivals, or teams that they are battling for the final playoff spot in the league. While the Bruins are tied with the Weyburn Red Wings for the fewest points in the league, they have at least four games in hand on all of the teams they are chasing for that final playoff spot.
Estevan (11-14-2-1) will return to the ice on Dec. 11 when they visit the Yorkton Terriers.
