The Estevan Bruins' first line combined for 12 points to lead the team to an entertaining 6-5 victory over the Humboldt Broncos Tuesday night at Spectra Place.
Calder Neufeld notched a hat trick and set up Dylan Smith for his second of the year on a spectacular game-winner with 2:36 to play in the third period. The goal was insurance at the time but stood up as the winner when Humboldt's Neil Landry scored with 1:13 left.
Neufeld crossed the blueline while being obstructed by a Broncos forward, chipped the puck over his opponent, got to it first and feathered a perfect pass to a wide-open Smith in the slot for a tap-in.
Smith also set up four tallies on the evening and linemate Cole Olson added a goal and two helpers for the Bruins (2-2).
Chris Daniels had the other Estevan marker. Brett Pinder, Riley Kieser, Matt Glowa and Logan Sproule also scored for the Broncos (3-2).
Pinder opened the scoring for Humboldt eight minutes into the first period, but the Bruins responded with three goals in a span of 3:10. In the middle of that torrid stretch, forward Josh Jelinski delivered a thunderous open-ice hit on Broncos star Andrew Johnston, which seemed to spark the home side.
Estevan led 3-2 after 20 minutes and 4-3 after 40. Shots on goal were 35-23 for Humboldt, including a 13-5 margin in the third period.
