Bruins Split Final 4-Game Northern Road Trip

The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins closed off a very busy month with their best overnight road trip of the regular season.

The Bruins finished a 4-game in 5-night swing by defeating the Melfort Mustangs 4-3 on Saturday night to finish the trip with two wins and two losses. The Bruins alternated wins and losses starting with a 3-0 defeat in Nipawin on Tuesday, beating La Ronge 4-1 on Wednesday, and falling 1-0 in Flin Flon on Friday.

Goaltender Jake Anthony got the start in the opening game in Nipawin, where he played last season before coming to Estevan in an offseason trade. Nipawin jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the 1st period and after a scoreless 2nd period, the Hawks chipped in an insurance marker late in the 3rd period to make the final 3-0. Anthony finished with 30 saves in the loss, while Nipawin goaltender Declan Hobbs stopped all 25 shots he faced.

The Bruins would bounce back the next night in La Ronge with several players getting on the scoresheet in a 4-1 victory. Isaiah Thomas opened the scoring in the 1st period to put the Bruins up 1-0 after 20 minutes. After La Ronge tied the game early in the 2nd period, Eddie Gallagher deposited home a rebound to put the Bruins back up 2-1 after two period. After a tight-checking 3rd period, Michael McChesney and Turner Ripplinger both scored with less than five minutes to play to give Estevan the 4-1 victory. Grant Boldt made 32 saves in the win for the Bruins.

After an off day, the Bruins got back on the bus up to the Flin Flon for a Friday night showdown with the Bombers. Both teams stood tall on defence and both goaltenders played very strong throughout the game. After a scoreless 1st period, the Bombers scored late in the 2nd period to take a 1-0 lead into the 3rd period. The Bruins were unable to come up with the equalizer and Flin Flon held on for the win. Boldt played a stellar game in goal for Estevan, making 30 saves in the loss. Flin Flon’s Pierce Diamond made 24 saves in the win.

Finally, the Bruins would close off the trip in Melfort defeating the Mustangs for the third time in three games this season. TJ Irey opened the scoring with a powerplay goal midway through the opening period. Melfort’s Justin Ball would tie the game before the intermission as it was 1-1 after 20 minutes. McChesney gave the Bruins a brief 2-1 lead a minute into the 2nd period, with Ball responding just three minutes later to tie it back up at 2-2. But Johnny Witzke would score on the powerplay shortly thereafter and Ripplinger added a shorthanded marker to make it 4-2 Bruins after two periods. The Mustangs would get one goal back in the 3rd period, but the Bruins held on for the 4-3 victory on Saturday night. Boldt made 26 saves in the win.

The Bruins now have a (15-17-1) record on the season, and sit two points back of the Yorkton Terriers (16-10-1) for top spot in the division. The two teams face off in Yorkton on Tuesday at 7:30pm.