Seven points in five games is the statistic that has given the Yorkton Harvest's season new life as the team has gone from battling to just staying out of dead last to chasing the final SMAAHL playoff spots in what is shaping up to be an intense race for the rest of the season.
The Harvest continued their hot play for much of last week as they beat the Notre Dame Argos at home on Wednesday to extend their winning streak to three games in what was a 4-2 affair. Donavon Lumb opened the scoring just one minute into the game for the Harvest to round out the first period scoring before Notre Dame returned the favour to start the second period. Levi Morin added a powerplay goal to his assist on the Lumb marker to give the Harvest a 2-1 lead before the Argo's tied up the game with a powerplay goal of their own to head into the second period intermission.
Logan Herchak scored the game winning goal before Lynndon Pastachak added an empty net tally for insurance as the Harvest won all three games of their FAA homestand going into their road meetings with the Regina Pat Canadians and the Notre Dame Hounds.
Saturday's meeting with the Pat Canadians was the Harvest's first game against a top SMAAHL in weeks as the Harvest had the advantage of playing Beardy's then the Argo's at home, but the Harvest proved their strong play was not the product of weak competition as they rose to the occasion and matched the second place Canadians in their own building.
Carson Cayer opened the scoring for the Harvest after a scoreless second period before Chase McKersie gave the Harvest a 2-0 lead with fifteen minutes to go in the third period in what was looking like two more points with the Harvest up 2-0 and just needing to hold on defensively to wrap up the fourth straight win.
However the Canadians showed why they are one of the league's top teams as they answered the Harvest's insurance marker with one of their own to make the game 2-1 with plenty of time remaining in the third period. A Canadians penalty late in the third looked like it would wrap things up, but a late shorthanded goal from Zach Zborosky tied the game and sent it into overtime where they Canadians finished the comeback and stole the extra point away from the Harvest.
A 6-3 loss Tuesday night to the Notre Dame Hounds and Yorkton's own and Prince George Cougars product Matt Kustra ended the Harvest's unbeaten streak in regulation and kept them one point off of Swift Current and the Argo's in the SMAAHL standings. The win also saw the Hounds climb to within one point of the Harvest in a race that sees five teams separated by just four points in the middle of the standings.
The Harvest will look to rebound quick this weekend as they host the league's final playoff team in Swift Current in Saturday/Sunday action at the FAA before going back to Wilcox to face the Argo's next Wednesday in a very important run of games. Two wins this weekend would likely see the Harvest gain important footing in the points race while two losses would see the Harvest fall back down into the cellar and give the Legionnaires breathing space.
A slow start has given the Harvest's December a must win vibe, two very crucial games lay ahead and will determine the story for the club's December stretch before Christmas. Win and the climb continues, lose and the return from the cellar resets only time will tell how the story goes.
