Four fights broke out between the Mustangs and the Bruins, late in the third period of Game 2 (Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

2-0 Series Lead

Mustangs win physical, high-scoring Game 2 against Bruins

Mar 24, 2024 | 2:19 PM

The Melfort Mustangs remained perfect in the playoffs on Saturday night, as they took down the Estevan Bruins 7-4 in Game 2 of their first-round series.

Goals were a plenty and frustrations boiled over in the third period, as it was actually the Bruins who lead right off the hop, but that didn’t last for long.

“Stuff happens, but the biggest thing is how you respond and we responded well. The line that got scored on, they got the first one and that’s awesome to see. We rallied through that and it was all good the rest of the night,” explained assistant coach Tye Scherger.

Estevan scored just 13 seconds into the hockey game as they captured their first and only lead of the series so far.

The Mustangs, however, rallied for five straight and never really looked backed, albeit a smally rally by Estevan in the third, which brought the game back to just a two-goal margin.

Weekend hockey

PAGC set to host largest Senator's Cup tournament to date

Apr 26, 2024

Riderville

Riders Have Options Heading into Tuesday CFL Draft

Apr 26, 2024

Firearms motion

Carrot River Valley MLA's motion on firearms owners' rights passes unanimously

Apr 26, 2024

It was the Bruins who pulled their goalie with over 18 minutes remaining in the final frame, which did work for them once, although they did let two into an empty net, which ultimately sealed their fate.

“It kind of caught all of us off guard there, everyone was screaming empty net and we didn’t know what was going on, but that stuff happens and we responded by getting a couple into the empty net,” Scherger added.

“When they get a couple, people tend to grip their sticks a little more, but the boys battled through, they played good in the D zone, and it was awesome to get the win.”

Melfort once again had five different goal scorers on the night, as Aidyn Hutchinson also picked up a hat trick, as he now has four goals through the first two games.

James Venne had 23 saves on the night for his second victory, while Jackson Miller gave up four goals on 20 shots, before giving way to Wyatt Bouvier midway through the second, as he stopped 10 of 11.

Games 3 and 4 go Tuesday and Wednesday at Affinity Place in Estevan, with both start times scheduled for 7 p.m.

–

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8