ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins scored three times in the first period and went on to defeat the Notre Dame Hounds 5-3 Friday night at Affinity Place.
Jagjeevan Phangura opened the scoring with a power-play goal 4:30 into the first period. Kade Runke scored just over eight minutes later, also on a power play, to double the Bruins’ lead, and Keagon Little added to the lead before the period was out.
At one time in the first period, the Bruins had scored three times and allowed just two shots on goal for Notre Dame.
It remained 3-0 until midway through the second period when both teams started to get penalties. Little scored at the end of a prolonged Bruins’ power play to give his team a 4-0 advantage.
Notre Dame had an extended two-man advantage to finish the second and start the third period, and Jacob Lee scored 38 seconds into the third. Shortly after the final Bruin penalty ended, Cyprus Smith-Davis scored for the Hounds to pull them to within two.
Runke’s second of the game restored the Bruins’ three-goal lead, and Will Dawson scored for Notre Dame to round out the scoring.
Jackson Miller made 19 saves for the Bruins in his fourth straight game. Johann Tremblay-Kau made 30 saves for Notre Dame.
The Bruins will host the Battlefords North Stars on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. The Stars are the top-ranked team in the country and have not lost in regulation this season.
