The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins came out of the Christmas break looking to re-take control of their division, and they did just that in a pair of wins against Weyburn.
The Bruins (22-12-2-1) defeated the Weyburn Red Wings (19-3-3-0) 5-1 Saturday night in Weyburn and then 5-2 Monday afternoon at Affinity Place.
“We’ve been waiting for these two games for awhile,” said Tanner Manz, who scored once in Weyburn and added two more on New Year’s Day. “It was a big rivalry weekend and I’m just glad we got two big wins and got the good rivalry going again.”
Manz opened the scoring at 5:27 of the first period Monday with help from linemates Jayden Davis and Tyson Manz. The trio has combined to form a buzzing energy line since Davis was sent back from the Western Hockey League.
“I love our line and it’s clicking pretty good,” said Tanner Manz.
“We’ve used those guys at the start of every period… since the break,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood. “They get us off to a good start every time. At the end of the day, those guys are reliable players, they have offensive upside and it intimidates other teams when you have those guys coming at you first shift of the period.”
The teams traded goals in the first and second periods, with Kaelan Holt scoring on a power play at 14:00 of the first. The Bruins and Wings went into the third period tied 2-2 when Tanner Manz scored his second goal less than a minute into the period. Hayden Guilderson scored at 2:18 and then on a power play, Jake Fletcher put the game away at 12:12.
“We got a quick one there and put them back on their heels,” said Tanner Manz.
Saturday, the Bruins got goals from Manz, Aigne McGeady-Bruce, Davis, Holt and Arthur Miller but lost Michael McChesney to an interference major and a suspension that carried into Monday. Bo Didur stopped 22 shots Saturday and 28 Monday in the two wins. The two big rivalry games right after Christmas is something the Bruins have become used to over the years.
“All those things are relative and the beauty is the other team’s got the exact same thing,” said Lewgood. “I think it mitigates some of the hangover from Christmas, figuratively speaking… but the fact that it’s a rivalry game and it’s an emotional game is going to get rid of some of the mental lapses you might see after a long break. They show up eager to win.”
The Bruins next action is Friday and Saturday at home this weekend when they take on the Melfort Mustangs at 7:30 p.m. Friday and the Humboldt Broncos at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
