ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins rallied from a 3-0 deficit thanks to four power-play goals and some timely saves by Jackson Miller to beat the Melfort Mustangs 4-3 Wednesday night at Affinity Place in Game 3 of their SJHL quarter-final series.
Melfort now leads the best-of-seven showdown 2-1.
The game didn't start well for the Bruins, as they were down 1-0 after the first period and had just five shots on goal. Zac Somers scored the Mustangs' goal on a power play.
Estevan started generating chances in the second, including a breakaway for Alex Papaspyropoulos early in the frame, and Keagon Little hit the post on a power play. But it was Melfort getting goals by Nolan Roberts and Logan Belton for the 3-0 advantage. The latter marker was a short-handed tally with 5:05 to play in the middle frame.
The Bruins then scored three power-play goals in less than four minutes. Blake Heward's goal 21 seconds after Belton's goal gave the Bruins and their fans some life. Zach Burfoot scored early on a Bruins' two-man advantage just over two minutes later, and Ilia Chmelevski tied the game at the tail end of another Bruins' man advantage late in the frame.
Estevan had more chances to score in the third, including one in the slot midway through the frame that forced Mustangs' goalie James Venne to make a big save. Finally, team captain Keagon Little scored on a power play with under four minutes to play in the third to put the Bruins ahead.
Melfort pulled Venne in the last couple of minutes, but Miller made several saves to finish with 29 on the night.
Venne had 33 saves for Melfort, including 18 in the second period.
Game 4 is Wednesday night at Affinity Place at 7 p.m.
