The Yorkton Terriers score four times on nine powerplay opportunities, and erased three one-goal deficits before taking their first lead with under three minutes left in Game 2 on Saturday, and hung on for a 4-3 win over La Ronge, tying that Best-of-Seven SJHL Quarter-Final at 1-1.
Regular season scoring leader Chantz Petruic had two goals and an assist, while Alec Zawatsky scored the game winner on the powerplay at 17:06 of the third period, and added three assists for a four point night. Kaeden Taphorn had a goal and an assist, and Keenan Taphorn chipped in three helpers in the victory. Matthew Pesenti picked up the win making 25/28 saves.
The Ice Wolves led three different time, on goals from Booker Chacalias in the first period, Chad McIlwain in the second, and Grant Longtin in the third, and led 3-2 with under five minutes left, before Petruic and Zawatsky converted back to back powerplays. Xavier Cannon took the loss making 32/36 saves.
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On Friday, the Melfort Mustangs out-shot the Estevan Bruins 45-19, and lost 4-1, and on Saturday, out-shot them 46-15, and won 4-1, evening the series at one.
Keenan Rancier stole Game 1 for the Bruins, and almost did again, as it was a 2-1 before Melfort added two empty-netters. Rancier stopped 42 of the 44 shots he faced.
Eddie Gallagher opened the scoring for Estevan late in the first period, before Tian Rask tied it for the Mustangs in the second. Christian Albertson’s second of the series, 7:11 into the third period stood up as the winner before Gabe Odowichuk and Kenzie Arnold scored empty net goals 20 seconds apart.
Shawn Parkinson needed just 14/15 saves, as the Bruins managed five shots on goal in each period.
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After a 39-goal, 88-point regular season, Flin Flon’s Cole Rafuse racked up a four goal, one assist performance in Game 2 of their series with Humboldt, helping the Bombers to a 2-0 series lead.
Donavan Houle-Villeneuve added three assists, while Tristan Lemyre and Easton Haygarth each had a goal and an assist, and Jacob Delorme made 27/30 stops. Rafuse leads the league with seven points (4g-3a) through two games, while Houle-Villeneuve is right behind him with six (2g-4a).
Reid Arnold, Logan Foster and Josh Paulhus did the scoring for the Broncos, who’ll try to hold serve at home next week.
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The Battlefords Norths Stars are also up 2-0 in their series with Nipawin, following a 6-2 win at home on Saturday.
Kristian Lyon made 29/31 saves, and he’s now quickly 2-0, 1.00 GAA, .969% and a shutout through two SJHL playoff starts.
The Stars used six different goal scores in Game 2, with defenseman Noah Form opening the scoring, Ben Hiltz and Matthias Urbanski each added their first post-season goals in the second. Elijah Loon-Stewardson notched his second of the series early in the third period on the powerplay, before Dylan Esau and Logan Spence added two more late in the third.
Michael Makarenko and Riley Bruce picked up the goals for Nipawin.
All four SJHL Quarter-Final series’ have their games on the exact same dates through all seven games, so everyone now switches venues for Games 3 & 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
