Unforced errors and a lack of execution led the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins to a 10-3 loss to the Battlefords North Stars at Affinity Place on Saturday.
“Nobody wanted to work,” said dejected Bruins captain Lynnden Pastachak shortly after the defeat. “Hard work is all it comes down to when you want to play hockey. Things weren’t going right, so we simplified things down (to) pucks in deep, pucks out. That’s all you have to do and we didn’t do it tonight.”
The Bruins (8-3-0-1) carried the play early on only to get caught on a clearing attempt pickoff 10:18 into the first period by Stars left wing Ben Allen who skated in unopposed and backhanded a shot blocker side on Bruins goalie Nathan Alalouf. Troy Gerein made it 2-0 less than two minutes later on the man advantage poking in a loose puck that lay open in the crease before Layne Young added to the score at the 12:29 mark on another Bruins letdown.
“Execution on our game plan wasn’t there for the first three,” said Bruins head coach and general manager Chris Lewgood. “We scored one (by Michael McChesney 15:54 into the first period). I thought we were in better shape after one period and the second we went out (and) it was the same problem. We didn’t execute. We made unforced errors and as a result we handed them a bunch of goals.”
After Pastachak made it 3-2 four minutes into the second period, the floodgates opened for the Stars (9-5) with Allen, McGregor Sinclair, Brett Horn and Coby Downs lighting the lamp before the period was over. Battlefords controlled the play in the second period, thanks in part to three Bruins minor penalties that they capitalized twice on, outshooting the home side 23-3 in the frame.
It didn’t take long for the emotions to spill over shortly into the third period with Pastachak pushing Stars goaltender Taryn Kotchorek to the ice during a scrum in front of the Battlefords net, which was followed by a Connor Sych major penalty and game misconduct for a blow to the head on a high hit in the corner on Jake Fletcher before Bruins defenceman Josh Rieger notched his own major and game with a knee on Logan Nachtegaele.
Between the penalties, the Stars' Connor Logan, with two, and Keaton Holinaty found the back of the Nic Tallarico’s net, who had come in to replace Alalouf after the Stars seventh goal. Tyler Hengen provided the only Bruins reply.
“Coming into the third all we wanted to do was come out and play for the guys in the room and play for the fans and play for that emblem on the front,” said Pastachak. “We (had) to work hard and do what it took. If it took a fight or a big hit or wear a couple slashes or deal a couple slashes, that’s what we came out to do in the third. The outcome wasn’t what we wanted, but we got to bounce back and try and put it behind us.”
