The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins have had little to no trouble scoring goals this season but keeping them out of their net has been another story recently.
The Bruins won only one of three on the road as they lost 7-5 to the Kindersley Klippers Friday, won 4-3 in overtime over the Battlefords Stars Saturday and lost 8-6 to the Stars at the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Showcase Monday morning in Saskatoon.
The Bruins had a 5-2 lead early in the second period but allowed the Stars a whack of goals in the second half of the game in the 8-6 loss Monday.
“Any time you get to play those guys, you want to make the most of it,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood. “It's one of the elite programs in the league and the rivalry is strong with those guys.”
Monday, Michael McChesney, Johnny Witzke, Raihan Kheraj, Zach Goberis, Kaelan Holt and Mark Edmands scored singles for the Bruins. Isaac Embree chipped in with three assists, while Witzke and Goberis had a couple of assists apiece.
The match came a couple of days after back and forth contests on the road. The loss to Kindersley Friday saw the Bruins go down 6-2 early in the third and come back to 6-5, but gave up an empty net goal with a second left. Hayden Guilderson scored two goals, while Isaac Embree, Jake Fletcher and McChesney scored singles. Matt Lenz was pulled after the fourth Kindersley goal, while he and Matt Lukacs combined for 23 saves in the game.
Bruins goaltender Maxim Sidelnik saved 16 in the game.
“We played well for the most part that game and carried the play but we has such excessive breakdowns in our game that we gave up a lot of goals,” Lewgood said. “We kind of eliminated that in the third period but by that time it was too late and we weren't able to come back.”
The Saturday game against the Battlefords saw them better prepared and tighter defensively, possibly because the Bruins were facing the team that swept them in the playoffs in last year's second round.
“We've had a good battle with these guys over the last few years, especially in the playoffs,” said Lewgood. “When we get a chance to play them, especially in their rink on a weekend it's a lot of fun.”
A shot from the slot was deflected by Goberis for the game winner at 1:59 of overtime. Matthew Chekay, Guilderson and McChesney each scored singles, while Lukacs stopped 20 of 23 in the win.
The team played Tuesday against the La Ronge Ice Wolves before heading home Friday for a game against Viterra Division foes Yorkton Terriers.
For his part, Lewgood isn't waiting for goaltender Curtis Meger to come back from Prince Albert, nor Jayden Davis from Lethbridge as they try their luck in the Western Hockey League.
“I haven't reached out to their teams at all,” Lewgood said. “Those guys play with different teams now.” For those players, the focus is now on wishing them well, he said.
