Try as they might, the Wings couldn't cash in on the Melville Millionaires Tuesday night in Melville, as there was not enough gas in their tanks to finish the Millionaires off.
It would be Justin Hollinger to strike first for the Millionaires with not even a minute off the score clock in the opening frame. Melville's Lucas Froese would extend their lead to 2-0, thirty seconds later to frustrate the visiting Wings.
Drew George would open the scoring for the visiting Weyburn Red Wings with assistance from Kyle Vogal and Rodney Cowie at the 3:28 minute mark of the first period, making it a 2-1 contest to this point.
This would be all the scoring the Wings could muster until the final period but Melville would add a power play goal by Ian McNuly and their fourth and final goal by Roger Tagoona at the 17:48 mark of the second period.
Shawn Cowie would breathe new life into his team as he would add a power play goal of his own to the Weyburn side of the score clock. Brock Appleyard and brother Rodney Cowie would be rewarded assists for their hard work on the Wings' second goal to narrow the gap.
The Wings would strike again minutes later when Shawn Cowie would be awarded his second goal of the evening with helpers going to Tanner McCall and Appleyard at the 5:50 mark of the third period.
The Wings continued to dominate in the third period but Millionaire's netminder Zach Rakcochy would frustrate the Wings on every other shot on net for the duration of the period.
The score would remain 4-3 but it was a solid effort on the Wings behalf. Weyburn's netminder Mitch Kilgore would face 35 shots during the game while Melville's Lucas Froese would face 32 Weyburn shots. Both teams were one for six on the power play, which proved that goaltending was a key factor in the contest between these two rival teams.
Weyburn had 12 minutes on eight penalties while Melville had 22 minutes on seven penalties during the game.
Wings continue to dominate despite O.T. loss
Despite losing in overtime, the Weyburn Red Wings proved that they could battle back from a deficit and frustrate their opponents time after time.
The Wings traveled to Melville Saturday night to face their foes in the first of two games in Melville.
After being down to the Millionaires by two goals from Ian McNulty and Mark Owen in the second period, the Wings found the inner strength to claw their way back to 2-2 in the final period.
Shawn Cowie lead the Wings' comeback as he scored on the powerplay at the 10:02 mark of the third period with help from Ryan Whitell and Brock Appleyard to make it a 2-1 contest.
Forty-two seconds later Appleyard would even the scoring with help from Whitell and Rodney Cowie.
The stunned crowd in Melville sat in disbelief, as it was now an even game for anyone's taking. Regulation time would not settle this game and it was off to overtime to find a winner for this contest.
But it would be Melville's Tyson Newell who would be the hero of this game when he slipped the puck past Weyburn netminder Riley Hengen at the 2:07 mark of the overtime period.
Melville was fortunate to come out of this game victorious as their netminder, Zach Rakochy was the big difference turning away 42 Weyburn shots on the evening while Weyburn's netminder Hengen was charged with the O.T. loss and faced 24 shots from Melville.
Wings manhandle Hawks
Weyburn's Drew George set the tone of Friday night's game early at the 54-second mark of the first period when he scored unassisted against a stunned Nipawin Hawks' netminder Stephen Klein.
The Hawks would come back at the three minute mark and even the score when Eli Lichenwald would add one of his two goals on the evening.
Wings' Scott Kirkham would advance his team into a 2-1 advantage when he, along with Coltyn Sanderson and Brock Appleyard, would take advantage of a powerplay drive.
The Hawks would come back once again as Lichtenwald would add his second of the night onto the scoreboard at the 12:58 mark of the opening frame.
Weyburn's Bruce Keegan along with George would stretch the Wings' lead to 3-2 at the midway point of the second period. Shortly afterwards Weyburn would add to its lead making it 4-2 when Appleyard would score on a pass from Brentt Becker and Rodney Cowie.
With a commanding lead heading into the final period Weyburn's Sanderson would flex his scoring might and extend their lead to a comfortable 5-2 advantage, with an assist going to Keegan for his part in the drive.
Hawks' forward Jamie Johnson would add their third and final goal of the contest at the 4:26 mark of the third period, but it would prove to be too little, too late for the hapless Hawks.
Sanderson would add his second goal of the evening to the scoreboard at the 8:04 mark to increase the Wings stranglehold to 6-2 at this junction of the contest, with helpers awarded to Keegan and Kirham.
Rodney Cowie would add the seventh and final goal for Weyburn to the scoreboard at the 17:03 mark with help from Kyle Vogal and Shawn Cowie.
Weyburn's netminder Mitch Kilgore would have a relatively quiet night between the pipes, as he would face only 19 shots on the night. But time after time he (Kilgore) would prove his worth when needed. Hawks' netminder Stephen Klein would stare down 25 shots from the Weyburn Red Wings and was charged with the 7-2 loss.
The Wings are now on a three-game road trip where they will travel to La Ronge, Melfort and Nipawin in a grueling three day/ three game trip to the north before coming home to face Melville on January 26 (a make-up game which was postponed in November); Kindersley on January 28 and Flin Flon on January 29 at Crescent Point Place Arena.
