The Yorkton Harvest completed a two game home stand against the visiting Prince Albert Mintos. The first game of the series was played in Melville as part of the Hockey Days festivities.
The outcome was not favorable for the home team as the Mintos shut out the Harvest 7-0.
P.A. managed three first period goals, one each from Brett Njaa, Regan Wilton and Miles Warkentine.
Two more goals in the second period from Josh Elliot and Adam Osczevski made it 5-0 for the visitors.
Wilton and Ryan Duret added a goal piece in the third period to clinch the 7-0 shutout win.
Prince Albert goalie Tanner Burgardt, who turned aside 12 of 12 shots, earned the shutout.
The second game of the series returned to the Farrell Agencies Arena Sunday afternoon.
The Mintos came out looking for a repeat performance of Saturday's game and were a little disappointed to find the Harvest equally determined to play hard. Despite being outshot 41-19 by the Mintos. Yorkton managed to pull out a 3-3 tie after a five minute, sudden death overtime period.
Yorkton opened with a late first period goal by Lynnden Pastachak assisted by Brayden Park and Dakota Odgers to take a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Jeffrey Ness made it 2-0 just 19 seconds into the second period assisted by Pastachak and Odgers. The Harvest two goal margin held until midway in the second period when P.A. managed two powerplay goals to tie the game at two. Both P.A. second period goals were scored by Njaa.
Warkentine scored what appeared to be the game winning goal for the Mintos early in the third period.
Just when it seemed the Mintos would come away with a win, Harvest coach Jeff Odgers pulled his goalie in favor of a sixth attacker. The gamble, though risky, paid off as Pastachak, assisted by Nicholas Pouliot and Odgers, slipped the puck past P.A. goalie Burgardt to tie the game with 1:01 left in regulation time to send the game into overtime.
Following a scoreless overtime, the game was declared tied 3-3.
Lynnden Pastachak, who scored two big goals including the goal which tied the game, was named game star. The 15 year old forward from Bienfait, Sask., also earned an assist in the second period.
Pastachak admits they guys were disappointed when their two goal margin evaporated and P.A. took a one goal lead. The Harvest didn't quit, he says. "We had to keep going and put pressure back on them," he states.
While he agrees that pulling the goalie may have been risky, Pastachak says, it was necessary to get the six on five match-up. He says he managed to get the lucky bounce on the pass from Dakota Odgers and put it top shelf to tie the game.
Pastachak suggests the Harvest weren't ready to play and were unfocused Saturday in Melville when they lost to the Mintos in the first of two home games of the weekend.
While he doesn't claim it as an excuse, he admits the ice was a little different in a strange arena.
The Harvest redeemed themselves to prove that they could actually play with the Mintos. "And show then how we play in Yorkton," Pastachak closes.
Harvest head coach Jeff Odgers says the tie was huge for confidence and makes a huge difference in how a team feels about itself. "It just makes a huge difference coming back against a team like P.A," Odgers continues.
He admits that it's a risk pulling the goalie, but it's one a team has to take. "If you're going to lose by one, you might as well lose by two," he declares. The odds of scoring are increased a lot more than the risk Odgers suggests.
P.A.'s scoring was based on three power play goals, Odgers notes. The Harvest had a couple of opportunities to clear pucks but didn't do so. There were also some extended shifts. "Any-time you give a team like Prince Albert with their offensive skills that much time on the power play, they're going to make you pay. And that was really the difference in us getting the two points, they were able to score the three power play goals," Odgers explains.
In suggesting a reason for the loss in the first game of the two game series, Odgers says he isn't sure of the reason. "We were down 3-0 before the national anthem was over it felt like," he quips. "It's hard top rebound from getting scored on that quickly and we were never able to get our feet under us. A team like Prince Albert, when they smelled blood, they didn't let up. If you're not into it, they don't care. They're going to make you pay and they showed it by beating us 7-0," he says.
With eight games left and three teams to overcome for a playoff berth, it's a lot to overcome Odgers admits. He sees them as chances for the Harvest to earn points in the SMAAAHL standings.
Whatever the outcome Odgers is proud of the way Harvest players, especially the younger guys have developed over the season. Sunday afternoon, Pastachak had a huge game, Nicholas Pouliot was exceptional and 15 year old Dakota Odgers played well. The players are developing well and that's what he wants to see. "Are we where we want to be in the standings - no. We want to see those guys getting some playoff experience. It's going to be a battle but we have to keep pushing and keep developing," Odgers closes.
