The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings entered Friday night on a four-game winning streak and were looking to extend it against the Melfort Mustangs. Crescent Point Place was electric, with a large crowd in attendance for the kick-off of Parent-Billet Weekend.
The two teams would go back and forth in an intense contest that saw dazzling plays in both directions. Tied up 3-3 after 60 minutes, overtime would be needed. It was in the 3-on-3 extra period that the Mustangs would end the winning streak of the Wings, taking the game by a 4-3 final.
Melfort opened the scoring in the game when Aiden Wildeman scored at the 11:26 mark of the first period. It wouldn’t take long for the Wings to bounce back, though.
Just under five minutes later, with 3:49 left on the clock, Blake Norris would skate in on the left wing, make a move to get by the defender, and put the puck on net. Melfort goalie James Venne kicked aside that initial shot, but Jakob Kalin, who was left alone on the side of the net, potted the rebound for his 18th of the season to even the score 1-1. Norris was credited with an assist on the goal, as was Nolan Henderson.
Weyburn would take the lead just before the halfway mark of the second period.
Ty Mason would take a feed from Ryley Morgan, and then manage to make his way through two Melfort defenders, while the Wings were shorthanded, and earned himself a breakaway. He would make no mistake, and buried his shot behind Venne to make it 2-1 Weyburn. Jordan Edwards had the other assist on the goal, which was Mason’s 16th.
In the third period, Melfort would find a way to bounce back in the second half of the frame.
Leith Olafson would score with 8:57 remaining, then 87 seconds later, Dawson Leroux would beat Dazza Mitchell to give the Mustangs their first lead since the first period.
The Red Wings were undeterred.
With Mitchell on the bench in favour of the extra skater, the Wings would get a chance during a scramble in the crease. Jackson Hassman would bat in the loose puck for his 16th of the campaign, and the Wings would tie the score 3-3 with 61 seconds left in regulation. Nicholas Kovacs and Mason would be credited with the helpers on the tally.
In overtime, the Wings would get a great chance, but a turnover would allow the Mustangs to take possession and set up a cycle in the Weyburn zone. Riley Ashe would find the mark with his shot, and his goal would be the game-winner.
While the Wings didn’t get the win, they still earned a point for the overtime loss. With the Notre Dame Hounds beating the Kindersley Klippers in regulation, Weyburn’s lead over the Hounds for the eighth and final playoff spot shrank to three points. The Wings were also unable to gain any ground on the Nipawin Hawks, who are in seventh place, nine points up on Weyburn. The Hawks also lost in overtime, falling 3-2 to La Ronge.
The Wings will look to bounce back Saturday night as they play their second game of the weekend, and third of their seven game homestand. They will host the Klippers at Crescent Point Place. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m.