All good things eventually come to an end, and that was the case for the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings. Saturday night, they dropped a 2-0 decision to the Nipawin Hawks at Crescent Point Place. The loss was the first in regulation for the Red Wings since January 13th and ended a nine-game point streak for the Wings.
The game Saturday saw the Red Wings pepper former Weyburn netminder Jackson Fellner with 34 shots. Fellner turned them all aside as he earned his second shutout of the season.
At the other end, Weyburn goalie Dazza Mitchell was nearly perfect, with the only blemish on his night being a goal with 1:25 left to play in regulation, and it was a goal that he didn’t have much of a chance on.
A point shot from Zander Stewart would be redirected in the front, and the goal was credited to Braxton Buckberger.
Mitchell would turn aside 27 shots in the loss.
Carson Dobson added an empty net goal with 10 seconds left to play to make it 2-0.
With the loss, the Red Wings continue to hold 8th place in the SJHL. They are five points back of the Hawks for 7th with two games in hand. The Wings are also chasing the Estevan Bruins for 6th place. Weyburn is nine points back of the Bruins with three games in hand.
The Red Wings will have some crucial games coming up in the next week, as they travel to Yorkton Tuesday, then host Notre Dame Friday and Yorkton Saturday. Weyburn is currently six points up on the Hounds for the final playoff spot, while Notre Dame has two games in hand. Yorkton is 12 points back in 10th place.
The magic number for the Red Wings is currently 23, however, that number could change based on the results Sunday with the Hounds hosting the Flin Flon Bombers. The quest to secure a playoff spot will also see the Red Wings having to work a lot on the road, as after the game Saturday, they won’t be back at Crescent Point Place until March 9th. The road games on deck include two trips to Wilcox to face the Hounds, a pair of back-to-back games in Flin Flon against the Bombers, and back-to-back games in Kindersley against the Klippers.