Colin Doherty scored his first goal in the SJHL, and Max Monette scored in overtime, as the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings picked up a 5-4 win over the Nipawin Hawks Wednesday night. With the win, the Red Wings moved within two points of the Estevan Bruins for second in the Viterra Division with two games in hand. Weyburn is also three points back of the Kindersley Klippers for sixth place in the overall standings with four games in hand.
The Red Wings opened the scoring in the first period when Doherty scored on the power play 9:18 into the opening period. Tyler Teasdale had the lone assist on the goal.
Nipawin would even things up when Finley Radloff scored a power play marker on Dazza Mitchell with 2:45 remaining in the first period.
In the second, Weyburn would again take the lead as Liam Fitzgerald scored 5:53 into the frame. He was assisted on the goal by Jacob Visentini. The Hawks quickly responded, though, as Maguire Ratzloff scored on the power play with 10:54 to play in the period.
The back-and-forth scoring continued as Visentini scored a power play goal himself with 3:05 on the clock in the second. Nicholas Kovacs and Jerome Maharaj had assists on the goal. The second would end tied up 3-3, though, as Eric Hoiness would get the puck past Mitchell with just 39 seconds remaining.
In the third period, Jaxson Ruthven found the back of the net for his 14th of the campaign, assisted by Teasdale. The even-strength goal to give Weyburn the lead came at the 5:11 mark. Nipawin, though, would answer with Hoiness notching his second of the game on the power play at the 7:50 mark.
Neither team would be able to score in the remaining time in regulation, forcing a 3-on-3 overtime period. In overtime, Red Wings captain Max Monette scored his 20th of the season, with Ruthven getting the helper.
With eight games remaining on the season, the Red Wings are sitting in eighth place overall in the SJHL and holding the final playoff spot. They also have games in hand over everyone ahead of them in the standings, putting Weyburn in a good position to climb up the rankings.
The Red Wings will now have a night off before they continue their road trip in La Ronge on Friday night.