The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings entered Tuesday night's game looking to pick up two crucial points in the SJHL playoff race as the Melfort Mustangs came to Crescent Point Place. The Mustangs, though, had different plans. They held onto a lead coming out of the first period for a 6-5 victory.
The first period of the game would see the two teams combine for eight goals, with Melfort taking a 5-3 lead. Brayden Westerlund from the Mustangs got the scoring started just 1:20 into the game, but Weyburn answered just 20 seconds later.
Blake Betson would notch his seventh of the season, assisted by Sam Callahan, to make it a 1-1 game.
Melfort regained the lead at the 3:40 mark as Ryan Duguay beat Angelo Zol to make it 2-1, then Westerlund added his second of the night on the power play 8:23 into the frame to make it 3-1.
The Red Wings, though, weren't finished scoring themselves, as 19 seconds after the second Westerlund goal, Jerome Maharaj notched his 16th goal of the season, unassisted to make it 3-2.
Melfort would reply just over a minute later, as Leith Olafson scored a power play goal with 9:55 left on the clock in the first period to make it 4-2.
Nick Kovacs would answer back for Weyburn to keep the deficit to just one goal as he scored a power play goal of his own with 6:54 to play. His fifth of the season, assisted by Jaxson Ruthven, made it 4-3.
The Mustangs weren't finished scoring themselves, though, as Zac Somers scored with 4:55 left in the period to make it 5-3. The goal also resulted in head coach Cody Mapes swapping goaltenders, with Ryan Hicks coming on to take over from Zol for the remainder of the period.
While he played for just 4:55, the stint between the pipes was the SJHL debut for Hicks, who has spent most of the season with the Regina Silver Foxes of the PJHL.
Zol would be back in the crease for the Red Wings for the start of the second period, and he would face 25 shots in the rest of the game, turning aside everything he faced. At the other end of the ice, Melfort netminder Kristian Coombs would be perfect throughout the second period.
In the third period, Cade Meiklejohn would score for the Red Wings 1:54 in to close the deficit to one goal, with plenty of time to spare to pull closer. The power play marker was assisted by Jaxson Ruthven and Brendan Hunchak.
With 2:12 left on the clock, the Red Wings would pull Zol in favour of the extra attacker, and the Mustangs would take advantage of the empty net as Logan Belton scored to make it 6-4. Weyburn wasn't done yet, though.
Zol would again head to the bench in favour of an extra skater with 1:34 left in the game, and 30 seconds later Meiklejohn scored his second of the game, and 18th of the season, to make it 6-5. Ruthven and Maharaj had the assists on the goal.
The Red Wings wouldn't be able to score the equalizer, though, and the game ended 6-5 in favour of the Mustangs.
Weyburn continues to hold the eighth and final playoff spot with plenty of hockey still to play this season. The Red Wings will also play the majority of their remaining 15 games at home.
The next action for the Red Wings will be Friday night, as the Flin Flon Bombers come to Crescent Point Place. The last time Flin Flon was at Crescent Point Place, Weyburn would force the top-ranked team in Canada to a shootout.