The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings and Melville Millionaires exchanged the lead four times during Saturday's game in Melville. It would be the Millionaires, though, who held the lead last, as they scored the game winner with 38 seconds remaining to beat the Wings 5-4. The loss would also bump the Red Wings out of the final playoff spot, but with 18 games remaining on the schedule, they still have a lot of opportunity to make up the ground.
Melville opened the scoring in the first period when Evan Mayer scored a power play goal 8:26 into the game.
Weyburn would respond early in the second, as Cade Meiklejohn notched his 15th goal of the year 3:44 into the period. Jaxson Ruthven would have the assist on the goal. Then, Carter Briltz potted his sixth of the season at the 8:19 mark to give Weyburn a 2-1 lead. Jacob Visentini had the assist on the goal.
Melville tied things up with another power play goal with 5:14 to play in the second, as Colby Ball got the puck past Dazza Mitchell. The tie, however, wouldn't last a minute.
The Red Wings moved back in front with 4:31 to go as Visentini scored a goal of his own. Liam Fitzgerald and Meiklejohn had the assists on the goal.
Weyburn's lead would hold until the 4:29 mark of the third when Ball scored his second power play goal of the game to make it 3-3. Then, Luc Bydal gave Melville the lead with 3:37 remaining.
Weyburn would pull Mitchell in favour of the extra attacker, and it paid off, as Meiklejohn scored his second of the game with 55 seconds remaining to make it 4-4. Tyler Teasdale and Colin Doherty had the assists on the goal.
The Millionaires, though, would take all of the momentum away when Jadon Iyogun scored with 38 seconds left to make it 5-4.
Despite the five goals against, Mitchell had a strong game, turning aside 47 of the 52 shots he faced on the night.
The Red Wings now find themselves in third place in the Viterra Division, four points back of Estevan for second, and five points back of Melville for first. Weyburn, though, does have two games in hand on the Bruins.
The Red Wings are off until Friday, as representatives from the SJHL head to Winnipeg to play in the SJHL/MJHL Showcase. The Red Wings have four players off to the annual event. Jerome Maharaj, Max Monette, Tyler Teasdale and Cade Meiklejohn have all been selected to play in the all-star event.
The next games for the Red Wings will be Friday and Saturday, as they head to Kindersley for a pair of games against the Klippers. Both of those games will be heard on Great Plains Ford Red Wings Radio Country 106.7.