Considering all the kilometres they logged to make the trek, the Estevan Bruins were more than happy to end their road trip Sunday with four points.
The Bruins earned a split with the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Friday and Saturday, with both games being decided by 4-1 scores, and proceeded to edge the Melfort Mustangs 3-2 in their third game of the weekend on Sunday.
"When you put in all that time and effort to get up there and put on a hockey game, you may as well get some points out of it," said Bruins head coach Keith Cassidy.
Estevan (11-6) remains atop the Sherwood Conference and now sits four points clear of the surging Weyburn Red Wings.
Cassidy said he was happy with his team's effort in Friday's loss, but they had trouble converting on it.
"I actually think we came out with some jump and, considering the venue and the change in style you have to go through to play there, we adapted fairly well. We just couldn't put the puck in the net," Cassidy said.
Pavlo Zerebecky, Aaron Enns, Tyson Vallette and Pat Tran, with an empty-netter, supplied the Wolves' offence. Matt Brykaliuk scored his fourth of the year for the Bruins in the second period.
Derek Tendler took the loss.
Brandon Stone got the call in net Saturday and made 47 saves to backstop the Bruins to victory.
Cassidy said Stone's performance earned him a second straight start against Melfort.
"He makes the first stops and he moves the puck extremely well for a goaltender," the coach said.
Calder Neufeld powered the visitors in his second game after returning from a groin injury, netting a natural hat trick in the second period.
"I'd be hard pressed to tell you that any of them went in off his stick, but he went to the right areas and that's what we were trying to get guys to do this weekend," Cassidy said.
Ryan Ostertag added an insurance goal six minutes into the third period. Skyler Hladun had the Ice Wolves' lone goal 13 seconds into the middle frame.
Cassidy said he wasn't impressed with his team in Sunday's game, although it was their third in as many nights.
"We came out a little flat. It's dangerous to let other teams hang around like that and they put forth a good effort," he said. "Stone had a pretty good game there, making some pretty key stops for us. It was ugly, but it's two points."
With Stone, Tendler and Steven Glass still in the fold, Cassidy said he isn't any closer to making a decision on which two tenders to keep.
"We're in the enviable position of having three goalies that can play at this level and excel.
"All three are still working hard and making a case for themselves. We can't have three guys around forever, but we're certainly going to give it the due diligence that it takes."
The Bruins didn't get much rest after the trip, with home games last night against Notre Dame and tonight against Yorkton completing a stretch of five games in six nights. They have a week off after that.
