ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins went 1-1 to start what is a busy Family Day long weekend of home games.
Estevan lost 6-4 to the Melfort Mustangs on Friday night. The game had a fairly listless start, with both teams taking multiple penalties. Melfort outshot Estevan 9-7 in a scoreless first period. The biggest highlight was a stellar save by Bruins' goaltender Jackson Miller late in the frame.
The malaise continued into the second, but the pace picked up, and then Melfort's Aidyn Hutchinson scored midway through the frame to open the scoring.
The goal touched off a stretch of four goals in 3 1/2 minutes, with Dillon Jackson tying the game for Estevan less than a minute after the opening goal, Clay Sleeva restoring the Mustangs' lead just over two minutes later and Gabriel Filion tying the game 14 seconds after Sleeva's goal.
Brady Wilson scored late in the second for Estevan, but Zac Somers tied the game 96 seconds later.
Hutchinson put the Mustangs ahead in the third, but a pinching Blake Heward tied the game a few minutes later. Somers' second of the game with less than seven minutes to play was the winner and Logan Belton rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal in the final seconds.
The Mustangs' top line of Hutchinson (two goals and two assists), Somers (two goals and two assists) and Sleeva (a goal and three assists) combined for 12 points.
Miller had 26 saves for Estevan, and James Venne made 22 saves for Melfort.
Saturday night, the Bruins recovered to edge the Yorkton Terriers 3-2. Yorkton struck early on a goal by Harrison Aldridge 95 seconds into the game, but Cade Kennedy replied with a goal a few minutes later against his former team. It was a teddy bear toss night, so after Kennedy scored, fans tossed bears on the ice to support the Children's Miracle Network.
Estevan notched both goals in the second, with Keagon Little scoring early in the frame and Alexander Papaspyropoulos tallying a few minutes later.
Anthony Domina scored for Yorkton in the third.
Jackson Miller stopped 28 shots for Estevan, while Ethan Farrow had 25 saves for Yorkton.
The Bruins (21-21-2-2) will be back on the ice on Monday when they host the Notre Dame Hounds. The game has a special 4 p.m. start time.
