CANORA - After a disappointing 6-5 loss on the road in Manitoba to the Swan Valley Axemen on Friday night, the Canora Cobras bounced back with an impressive 5-2 win against the Langenburg Warriors in Canora the next evening. The win moves the Cobras to within four points of the Theodore Buffalos for second place in the Sask East Hockey League north division standings.
In the game against Swan Valley, the Cobras gave up the first goal less than a minute into the first period. Coach Darren Schwartz said the Axemen deserved the early lead.
“We weren’t ready at the start of the game,” Schwartz said. “That first goal put us back on our heels, but we responded well and went up 3-2. Then, for some reason, we took our foot off the gas. It only takes a couple of bad shifts against good teams, and they’re gone.”
The Axemen took a 6-5 lead by the end of the second period, which turned out to be the final score of the game after a scoreless third.
“In the third period their goalie played better and they tightened up defensively,” said Schwartz. “We put on lots of pressure, but couldn’t get the tying goal.”
“I thought we played pretty well overall, but they’re one of the top teams in the league.”
Cole Rathgeber scored a pair of goals for the Cobras. Singles came from the sticks of Kody Rock of Canora, Austin Severson and Tyler Shankowsky. Ryley Stefanyshyn of Canora chipped in with a pair of assists.
The Cobras didn’t have long to think about that loss, as they were back on the ice at the Canora Civic Centre the following evening against the visiting Langenburg Warriors. The Cobras played “a complete game from start to finish” according to Schwartz, and handed the Warriors only their third loss of the season, and just the second in regulation time.
“We were ready to play right from the opening faceoff,” Schwartz said. “We did a lot of hitting, took hits to make plays, blocked a lot of shots, got great goaltending and cleared lots of rebounds from the front of our net. That’s how we need to play in the playoffs coming up.”
With Langenburg boasting four of the top 12 scorers in the league, Schwartz said it was a significant accomplishment to keep them down to two goals.
“It was nice that we could switch Austin Severson back to defense, which is his natural position. Having him and Vaughn Wilgosh [of Canora] back there, a couple of good offensive defenseman, it helps make us better as a team.”
Troy Zulyniak was the top shooter for the Cobras with a pair of goals in the win. Sean Kolodziejski of Hyas and Tyler Shankowsky each contributed a goal and two assists. Skyler Hladun added a goal and an assist.
The Cobras outshot Langenburg 44-23 and killed off all four Langenburg power play opportunities.
Canora’s next game is Friday against the visiting Theodore Buffalos, who lead the Cobras by only four points in the battle for second place and home ice advantage in the first round of the north division playoffs.
“Either way, we’re likely playing them in the first round,” said Schwartz. “We have a good rivalry with Theodore, going back to the days of the Fishing Lake Hockey League. But it’s like I told our guys after the Langenburg game, ‘If you play like that all the time, you give yourselves a chance to win every game.'"
