The SJHL final series is even at one win apiece after Melfort beat Weyburn 3-0 in game three on Sunday night.
The Melfort Mustangs' home-ice loss in game one of the SJHL final was just the third time all season that they have lost a game at the Northern Lights Palace. The defending SJHL champions were determined to defend home ice in game two of the series.
The Weyburn Red Wings, fresh off their opening-game win, set a physical tone early in the game with a huge hit 15 seconds after the opening faceoff. The Red Wings would continue to assert themselves physically in the game's opening stages, eventually forcing the Mustangs to take a penalty out of frustration at the 6:13 mark of the period.
The Red Wings' struggling power play wouldn’t get a shot on goal thanks to relentless puck pressure by the Mustangs that didn’t allow Weyburn’s special teams to get set up.
The teams didn’t give up many scoring chances the remainder of the period, resulting in a scoreless first period with Weyburn outshooting the Mustangs 11-10.
In the second period, Melfort started the frame on the man advantage after a late penalty to Weyburn, which foreshadowed how the period would play out for Weyburn.
The Red Wings would kill the remaining time on the initial penalty, but 45 seconds after the penalty expired, Weyburn would take a pair of penalties 16 seconds apart.
Mustang would open the scoring on the resulting 5-on-3 opportunity. Logan Belton’s fourth of the playoffs, a one-timer from the bottom of the right wing circle, would put the Mustangs in front 1-0.
Following another pair of Weyburn penalties, the Mustangs' power play was all over Weyburn, but Red Wing’s goaltender Angelo Zol made some outstanding saves to keep the lead at one goal.
However, as Weyburn’s fourth minor penalty expired, Logan Belton scored his second of the night to give Melfort a 2-0 lead.
Weyburn was assessed 20 minutes in penalties in the second period, disrupting any built-up offensive momentum. The Red Wings did not register a shot in period until there was 3:32 remaining in the frame.
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-5 in favour of Melfort, and they would take the 2-0 advantage into the intermission.
In the third period, Melfort would put the game away less than three minutes into the third period when Melfort’s Bo Eisner’s screened shot found the back of the net.
Melfort’s 3-0 victory evens the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
The Mustangs also outshot Weyburn 34-22. Melfort’s power play was 1/7 in game two, while Weyburn’s was 0/7.
Weyburn’s power play is definitely a point of concern. They are 0/11 in the series and have just one goal in their last 17 power plays.
Games three and four will be in Weyburn on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
