ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins won their fourth straight game with a 3-2 victory over the Nipawin Hawks Friday night.
Nipawin grabbed a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on a goal by Jonah Fournier. But a few minutes later, Brady Wilson tied the game for the Bruins.
Bruin defenceman Owen Miley notched a power-play tally midway through the middle frame to give his team the lead.
It remained a 2-1 game until the Bruins’ Owen Blanchard scored with 9:25 to play for a 3-1 advantage. Nipawin pulled to within one when Joel Mabin scored with 3:10 remaining in the third.
It appeared the Bruins would be able to kill off the final couple minutes of the game, as the Hawks were assessed a series of penalties, including a game misconduct for head coach Tad Kozun. But the Bruins couldn’t score on the two-man advantage, despite multiple quality chances. Ironically, it would be the Hawks who had the best scoring chance with seconds to play, but they couldn’t convert, either.
Cam Hrdlicka made 32 saves for the Bruins in his sixth straight start. Nolan McDowell also made 32 saves for Nipawin.
The game was the fourth meeting in a little more than two weeks between the two teams. Each team won twice. And Friday’s game was chippy at times, including a rare fight between Nipawin’s Matthew Nesto and the Bruins’ Mighton Johnson in the third period.
Estevan will be back on the ice Saturday night when they visit the Melfort Mustangs. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. Nipawin’s next game is Tuesday night when they visit the Yorkton Terriers at 7 p.m.
