The Terriers rough start to the month of November is now an afterthought after a bounce back weekend in goal from Kale Thomson. Solid penalty killing and defense saw the Terriers sweep the Melville Millionaires in their weekend series in another intense installment of the Highway 10 Rivalry.
Going into the weekend set the 'Terriers were riding a three game win streak after wins over La Ronge, Weyburn and league best Flin Flon while Melville was struggling despite hot goaltending from SJHL goalie of the Week Alex Wakaluk. The Millionaires had lost six of their last seven games heading into the weekend, losing the footing they once had on the top of the Sherwood Division and needing a turnaround to keep pace with the suddenly hot Notre Dame Hounds and the Terriers, who both were eager to take advantage of the struggling Mils.
The series saw a flip of the October matchup with Melville hosting Friday's game at the Horizon Credit Union Centre. Melville looked like they were going to rise to the occasion with the first two goals of the game in the first period coming from Daniel Orsborn and an Allan Kilback goal with five seconds left in the period to give the home Mils some serious momentum heading into the second period.
Momentum quickly turned the other way as Tayler Thompson continued his stellar play in his return from a layoff due to concussion with a goal three minutes into the second period before a John Odgers shorthanded goal tied the game up for the Terriers from an unlikely source as it was the grinder's first goal of the season.
A too many men penalty for Melville halfway through the third period proved to be the deciding factor of the night as the Terriers got a huge chance to steal a game on the road against the rivals with a man advantage with under ten minutes to play. The powerplay made no mistake in taking advantage of their golden opportunity and Chase Norrish scored his fifth of the season with just thirteen seconds left on the powerplay to give the Terriers the lead and the big win to extend their winning streak to four in a row.
Kale Thomson had a slow night in net, just facing 21 shots, but made the saves needed grabbing the win in goal.
After Friday's thriller matched the intensity and entertainment of the first two October games Saturday night's game in Yorkton had an electric feel going in with 1255 in attendance at the Farrell Agencies Arena and the game did not disappoint. Kale Thomson got the start in net after earning the nod with his performance in Melville Friday and after only facing 21 shots the night before was in for a much busier night as he and Wakaluk went toe to toe in what was to be the best goaltending showdown of the season. The Terrier powerplay struck once again as a Russell Trudeau high sticking penalty led to Tyler Giebel deflecting in a Brady Norrish slapshot from the point to give the Terriers the first bounce of the game and a 1-0 lead going into the first intermission.
After being outshot 14-10 in the first period the second was all Millionaires offence as they were given six minutes of powerplays in the second half of the period as Austin Bourhis was the recipient of a mixture of bad luck and bad discipline in taking two penalties in a five minute span to close the period with a questionable holding penalty followed by a charging infraction leaving the penalty box to put the pressure on his team.
Thomson answered the bell making several highlight reel saves in the period, but could not get the Terriers completely out of the hole as the Mils equalized shortly after Bourhis' second penalty to send the game into the third level.
Thomson saved 21 of 22 shots in the second period on his way to a 41 save performance in his best game of the season after a difficult stretch to November.
A much tighter third period saw the Terriers press at the end to score a last minute goal, but could not find the mark. Sending the game into overtime and 3 on 3 action for the opening two minutes as Bourhis received a roughing after the whistle penalty after an after the whistle scrum with Melville's Sean Aschim.
Open play filled the overtime session and the Terriers once again controlled all of the late scoring chances outshooting Melville 4-0 in the overtime session. Eventually it went to the shootout where two saves from Thomson and Derek Falloon and Tyler Giebel goals gave the Terriers the 2-1 win.
The win streak was extended to six games on Tuesday night as the Terriers avenged their home loss to Estevan with a 4-1 victory backed by another solid netminding performance from Thomson who seems to have refound his form and is this week's SJHL Goalie of the Week and could be good for back to back honors if his play holds up for the Terrier's remaining two games.
A home date with Battlefords Thursday and road action in Humboldt Sunday night wraps up the week for the Terriers as they look to extend their winning streak that has them keeping pace with the Hounds who are winners of ten of their last eleven games.
The month of December will see the Terriers play six of their eight games in the friendly confines of the Farrell Agencies Arena after a road filled November schedule and will give the Terriers a chance to pull away from the Sherwood Division pack provided the streaking Hounds cool off.
The Hounds come into town December 18 in the final game before Christmas break for a meeting that should be circled on everyones calendar before Melville and the Terriers renew their annual holiday tradition December 30 and January 1 to round out December's notable contests.
In other Terriers news third string goaltender Conor Barrie was traded to the Pickering Panthers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The move will free up a roster spot for the Terriers in addition to making the Terriers goaltending picture officially the one two tandem of Thomson and MacAuley unless another goalie is brought in during the coming weeks.
