(Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Win Streak Snapped

Mustangs win streak snapped after OT loss to Ice Wolves

Oct 2, 2019 | 8:24 AM

The Melfort Mustangs early season win streak has come full circle.

After getting their first win of the season on Sep. 17 against the La Ronge Ice Wolves, the Mustangs rattled off five more wins in a row. However, last night Melfort was in La Ronge looking for their seventh win in a row, but the hometown Ice Wolves had other plans and snapped the Mustangs streak with a 4-3 overtime victory. Assistant Coach Trevor Logan said they just didn’t have the right edge in this one.

“We had moments where we were okay and we were doing the right things,” he said. “But, that’s a team that was just hungrier than we were tonight and that’s the bottom line. You could tell all night that they had a little bit of jump in their step compared to what we had and that’s what happens.”

Melfort got out to a great start in the first period scoring twice without reply. The goals came from the blueline with a Jake Hobson powerplay marker, and Lucas Ochitwa’s second of the year that was netted just seconds after an Ice Wolf penalty had concluded.

La Ronge came back hard in the second and got a bit of help from the hockey gods as well. Aaron Greyeyes and Jake Gudjonson scored 45 seconds apart with both coming from turnovers by the Mustangs. Gudjonson’s goal was a misplayed puck that trickled it’s way through Shawn Parkinson, allowing Gudjonson to wack it across the goal line. Kyle Ford then notched his fifth of the year later in the frame to give La Ronge the lead as he got a nice pass and then snuck one through the arm of Parkinson for the 3-2 advantage. Melfort’s best chance of the period came late as Ben Tkachuk couldn’t connect on a two-on-none breakaway.

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In the third period, the opportunities were there for the Mustangs to take the game back. A total of four powerplays were given to the visitors in the third period, and they scored on just one, the first. Zach Anderson followed a point shot that rebounded out to him at the side. His backhand found a way past Liam McGarva and into the net to tie the game. The rest of the third was a test of everyone’s heart health as each team when back and forth with chances. That included a couple of Ice Wolf two-on-nones and two-on-ones. Melfort had their own chances as well, on the powerplay and even strength. That was highlighted by a Zack Smith breakaway where he got hauled down and awarded a penalty shot. He missed after wheeling in and missing the five-hole of McGarva.

The score remained at 3-3 after three periods, meaning overtime. Melfort had one solid chance in the early portion of the frame, but La Ronge took over after the first shift. Kevin Fillier, and Grant Longtin connected on a nice passing play with Zach Bannister finishing it off to give the Ice Wolves the 4-3 win. Logan said even in a loss where they felt they didn’t play well, there were a few positives.

“It was nice to bounce back after giving up three in the second and have a decently strong third,” Logan said. “So I guess you can build off that a little bit, but the biggest thing I think is that we just have to realize how hungry you have to be every night when you come to play these teams.”

Melfort’s record drops to 6-2-1-0 on the season and they’ll have a chance to start a new streak on Friday at home as the Humboldt Broncos come to town.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6