With just a few games left in the SJHL regular season, it goes without saying that every game carries the utmost importance. That is especially true for the Eagle Drilling Estevan Bruins and Weyburn Red Wings who are engaged in a very close battle for third place in the Sherwood Conference.
The team that eventually clinches third will have a little extra time to rest and heal from injuries before playing their first playoff round. The team that loses the race and finishes fourth will be forced take on the fifth place team (either Melville or Notre Dame) in the survivor series.
Estevan and Weyburn played a home-and home series last Friday and Saturday, but the pair of contests did absolutely nothing to separate them in the standings as each team was able to win in the other's building.
Bruins' coach Chad Leslie said he obviously would have liked to take both games from the Red Wings, but getting one and keeping pace with their Highway 39 rivals isn't too bad either.
"Two wins was ideally what we wanted, but after a tough game on Friday night - to bounce back and win one on the road to keep yourself in the picture was a real big win for us, so I was pretty happy," Leslie said
The first of the two games was played at the Civic Auditorium on Friday, and despite holding a 2-1 advantage after 40 minutes of play, the Bruins fell apart in the third and lost by a 5-2 score. Estevan got into some penalty trouble in that final frame and the Wings took advantage with four goals, including two on the power play and one into an empty net.
Special teams were clearly the difference in Friday's game as Weyburn was dominant on the power play, going three for four, while Estevan was able to score just once in five opportunities.
Jonathan Ceci and Troy Hunter accounted for the Bruins offence, while Joel Danyluk made 29 saves and took the loss in goal.
Game two of the home-and-home in Weyburn on Saturday gave the Bruins a chance to extract some revenge, and they were able to do just that, downing the Wings 5-2 at Crescent Point Place.
With zeros on the board after the first period, most of the scoring came in the second as the two teams combined for five goals. Dylan Smith, Calder Neufeld and Joel Kot tallied for the Bruins, while Jesse Ross and Keegan Bruce answered for the Wings.
A power play marker by Ceci and an empty-net goal off the stick of Mark Cross in the third gave Estevan a 5-2 lead, and that was how it ended. Leslie said it was very important for the Bruins not to squander their third period lead two games in a row.
"It was crucial and I didn't even have to say anything in the room between periods, our leadership group took care of that," said Leslie. "I stepped in and they were already rallying the troops and talking about not blowing another lead, so it makes my job easier when I've got good leaders in there who know what they have to say and do."
As of Tuesday morning, Weyburn held a slight lead in the standings with 60 points, one ahead of the Bruins who sat at 59, but Estevan had a chance to leap-frog the Wings on Tuesday night when they hosted the Yorkton Terriers. Game results were not available at press time, however they can be found at www.estevanmercury.ca.
The Bruins have just two games remaining, and both are in the friendly confines of the Civic; they'll take on the Notre Dame Hounds Thursday at 7:30 p.m., before wrapping up the season against Melville next Tuesday, also at 7:30 p.m.
According to Leslie, the players know the importance of the remaining games and what's on the line.
"They know that our fate is in our hands, and if we take care of business and win three games, it gives us a little extra time to heal and to get ready for Kindersley," said Leslie. "Going forward, whatever way we have to get it done, we're going to get it done."
