The Estevan Bruins are playing for their lives.
The Bruins lost game two 5-4 in a tight match against the Yorkton Terriers on Monday night at the Civic Auditorium, and are now down two games heading into game three tonight back in Yorkton.
"Down two games, it is what it is," said Bruins coach Chad Leslie after the loss. "Realistically, it's a long series still. If we go out and squeak one out in Yorkton, and we come back here, there's an opportunity to tie the series up. We just have to treat it like every game is our last."
Just one minute into Monday's game, Bruins goaltender Joel Danyluk played the puck from the corner of his end right to a Terriers' forechecker, who fired it into the open net. Not the way the Bruins wanted to start game two, already down 1-0 in the series.
But the Bruins rebounded.
The Terriers were down two men and during the advantage Calder Neufeld tied the game. Less than 50 seconds later Dylan Smith gave the Bruins the lead before the second penalty ticked off the clock.
Playing four-on-four later in the first, Dominic Perrault blasted one from the point, with assists by Joel Kot and Ryan Andersen.
The Bruins closed the explosive first period up 3-1.
Everything changed in the second.
Robbie Ciolfi, who scored the Terriers lone goal in the first period, netted his second and third goals of the game leading the way to a three-goal frame for the visiting team.
"We strayed from the system play a little bit," said Leslie. "(Yorkton) drove the lane real well and just did the little greasy things they needed to win, and we didn't do enough of it."
The Terriers extended their lead with a goal at the halfway point in the third period leaving the Bruins down two goals.
Ben Findlay scored with 6:24 remaining in the third to get within one and give the Bruins a chance.
With the Bruins goalie pulled in the final minute, Yorkton had an opportunity to end the game, but a shot wide sent the Bruins back down the ice with the puck. On the rush the Terriers were forced to take a penalty.
With one minute remaining, the Bruins had the goalie pulled and a power play but were unable to put one in the back of the net and extend the game to overtime.
Leslie said in some cases the breaks just weren't going for the Bruins. He alluded to an unfavourable bounce off the referee that led to the fifth Terriers goal as an instance of bad luck.
"I don't know if we get up, and we get satisfied. And we try to protect the lead instead of keeping going. We've got to figure that out," said Leslie. "It feels like we play better when we're coming from behind. I don't know what it is, but it's something we better figure out real quick or else it's going to be too late."
He said the Bruins inability to get pucks deep into opposition territory was a big factor in Monday's loss. Turnovers often prevented the Bruins from mounting much attack.
When the Bruins have turned the puck over, Leslie said the Terriers have been very quick to transition.
"When you're playing against a skilled team, you got to make sure they're bring it 190 feet every time. Neutral zone turnovers are what kill you against skilled teams."
Leslie said they are up against a good team, but if they stick to their systems and cycle the puck low in the offensive zone they will find success.
In game one on Saturday night in Yorkton, the Bruins were the victims of a slow start. They got down 3-0 in the first period, in an eventual 4-2 loss.
Neufeld scored on the power play in the second period for the Bruins. The power play is something Leslie has been pleased with in the series so far as the Bruins are three for nine.
Jonathan Ceci scored from Smith and Matt Szpak in the third, but the Bruins couldn't push enough at the end of the game. The Terriers scored an empty-netter to close the first game of the series.
Leslie said, "(The Terriers) are a damn good team, and they're well coached."
