The Estevan Bruins halted a four-game winless streak and ended October on a high note with a convincing 5-1 victory over the Humboldt Broncos at Affinity Place on Wednesday night.
It was the second meeting of the season between the Bruins and Broncos after Humboldt edged Estevan 4-3 in overtime during the SJHL Showcase in Warman on September 23rd.
The Bruins would open the scoring at the 11:34 mark of the 1st period as captain Jayden Davis wired a shot past Humboldt goaltender Michael Harroch to give Estevan an early 1-0 lead. Kade McMillen drew the lone assist on Davis’ 6th goal of the season.
Then in the final minute of the period, Devan Harrison would score his second goal of the year, and 2nd in as many games, with only 47 seconds remaining to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. Eddie Gallagher and Jayden Davis assisted on the goal.
It would remain 2-0 throughout the majority of the 2nd period as both Harroch and Bruins goaltender Keenan Rancier shut the door. But in the final two minutes, each team would find the back of the net.
First, the Bruins would increase their lead to 3-0 as Tanner Manz sniped a shot past Harroch’s blocker on the powerplay at the 18:00 mark. It was Manz’s 4th goal of the year, with Gallagher and Jayden Davis assisted on the marker.
But just 59 seconds later, Humboldt would earn a powerplay and get their first goal of the game as a shot from the point would be tipped in front by Connor Nolan to make it 3-1 after two periods.
With the chance to end a four-game losing streak in sight, the Bruins came out of the gate flying to start the 3rd period and scored two quick goals to create some much needed separation.
Just 1:13 into the final frame, some hard work down low forced a turnover with Kolton Leslie chipping the puck into the corner for Jayden Davis. Davis peaked over his shoulder and saw Troy Hamilton lurking on the back side of the net, Davis then fired a quick, no-look pass right onto Hamilton’s tape who one-timed the puck off the post and past Harroch to give the Bruins a 4-1 lead.
Just over two minutes later, the Bruins would extend their lead even further while playing 4-on-4. At the 3:31 mark off a defensive zone faceoff, the Bruins broke out to center with Tyler Savage poking the puck past a defender and springing Griffin Asham-Moroz in on a clear breakaway. Asham-Moroz executed a perfect deke and lifted the puck over Harroch to give the Bruins a 5-1 lead.
Despite some feisty play back-and-forth, the rest of the period played out uneventful which was good news for the Bruins who closed out a 5-1 victory over the Humboldt Broncos.
Keenan Rancier (39/40) continued his stellar play in the first two months of the season. Rancier’s personal record now stands at (5-6-2-0) with a 2.21 G.A.A. (2nd SJHL) and .933 SV% (2nd SJHL).
Final shots on goal finished at 40-35 for Humboldt. Both the Bruins (1/7) and the Broncos (1/4) scored once on the man advantage.
The Bruins (5-8-2-1) end the month of October with 13 points, 3rd in the Viterra Division with two games in hand on both Yorkton (18 points) and Weyburn (15 points). Estevan also has the best goal differential in the division at (-1) compared to Yorkton (-4), Weyburn (-20) and Melville (-24).
The Bruins will play four games at home and four games on the road in the month of November, starting on Friday, November 1st with a home date against the Notre Dame Hounds (6-9-2-0).