A flukey goal late in the third period cost the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins a proverbial four points in the Viterra Division standings on Saturday at Weyburn’s Crescent Point Place.
With pressure from the Bruins in the neutral zone with less than four minutes remaining in the 1-1 game, Weyburn Red Wings forward Braden Mellon dumped the puck into the Bruins zone leading to a routine setup behind the net with Estevan having the first man back. Bruins goaltender Nathan Alalouf skated out from his crease to play the puck for his teammates, but a funny bounce off the stanchion directed the puck straight into the open cage.
“There was no one to fault,” said Chris Lewgood, head coach and general manager of the Bruins. “Those things happen maybe once or twice a year.”
Estevan’s 2-1 loss to the Red Wings (21-7-1-3) pushed the Bruins (15-15-0-1) 15 points back of their Viterra Divison leading rival. The setback came on the heels of a strong 2-1 win over the Kindersley Klippers (17-13-0-1) at Affinity Place on Thursday.
“Both of those games are an example of our team playing the right way,” said Lewgood. “We only scored two goals in the Kindersley game, but our attention to detail in our defensive game was very good. Had that goalie (Nathan Hargraves) made a couple more saves and we lost, you take that for what it is. Our team played well and that’s the kind of effort we need. And the Weyburn game was just like that where, with the exception of the odd breakdown, I thought our team deserved a better fate.”
Lewgood said the Bruins have three tough games before the Christmas break in their next home date against the division rival Melville Millionaires (9-21-0-1) tonight followed by road matches against the La Ronge Ice Wolves (17-12-1-2) on Saturday and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League leading Battlefords North Stars (24-7-1-2) on Sunday.
He said Melville made it tough on them the last time they played, a late October 7-2 road loss for the Bruins, and there are not many teams that go into La Ronge or Battlefords and walk away with wins, so they’re focused on paying attention to detail on the defensive side of the game while working hard in all three zones.
The Bruins will have to go into these games without veteran centre Keaton Longpre, who suffered a knee injury in Weyburn and will be out of action till after Christmas. Centre Lynnden Pastachak is also listed as game-to-game with a shoulder injury, while right winger Owen LaClare is day-to-day with a sore back.
Lewgood said Pastachak will miss some games going forward, but LaClare may be able to dress this week. He said there are lots of players hurting right now, but that is just the nature of the game at this time of year.
“We’re going to be looking at using some APs (affiliated players),” he said. “I’m not exactly sure who yet, but we’ll be looking at using some APs on Wednesday night and potentially over the weekend.”
