Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

SCOREBOARD SATURDAY

The Estevan Bruins came into the weekend in eighth place, moved to seventh and clinched a playoff spot on Friday, and they might not be done moving on up.  The Bruins had another offensive outburst Saturday, in a 6-5 win in Nipawin, pulling to within two points of the sixth place Hawks, with a game in hand and a favourable schedule in the final week.

Eddie Gallagher (2g-1a) and Cody Davis scored twice each and Kade McMillen added three assists in Saturday’s win.  Ryder Pierson and Tyler Savage also scored and Keenan Rancier made 29/34 saves for the Bruins (29-22-3-1), who went a perfect 4-for-4 on the powerplay.

Jack Lenchyshyn (1g-1a), Andrew Schaab (1g-1a), Davis Chorney, Jeremy Bisson and Caden Benson replied for the Hawks (30-22-3-1).  Nipawin sat in third place a short time ago, but all of a sudden look like sixth is best case scenario as they have just a home and home with Melfort remaining next weekend.

The Bruins, two points back of Nipawin, have three games left, all against non-playoff teams.  They’re in Notre Dame on Wednesday, and have a home and home with Weyburn on the weekend.

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Shawn Parkinson need just 15 saves for his second shutout this season as the Melfort Mustangs beat the Weyburn Red Wings 4-0, and jumped over the idle La Ronge Ice Wolves into fourth place in the overall standings.

Tian Rask scored twice and added an assist, while Ben Tkachuk and Alex Rondeau had the others, and Kenzie Arnold had two assists.

Melfort still has a shot at third place, as they’re two points back of Yorkton now with a game in hand, after going 5-0-1 in their last six games, and now they’re in Yorkton on Tuesday.  They’ll face Nipawin twice next weekend and finish up Monday, March 2nd in Flin Flon, in a game that won’t matter to the Bombers in the standings, four nights before the start of playoffs.

Douglas Wakelyn made 37/41 saves in goal for the Red Wings (19-34-1-2) who’ve now dropped six straight.

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Steven Bacovsky made 28 saves for his first SJHL shutout and the Kindersley Klippers beat the Melville Millionaires 1-0.

Ethan King scored the game’s only goal, short-handed early in the second period for the Klippers (22-26-6-1).

Berk Berkeliev stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced in goal for the Millionaires (15-33-2-4).  Melville’s now dropped seven in a row, and haven’t scored more than one goal in a game during that stretch.

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The Flin Flon Bombers know they’re finishing second in the standings, and they rolled to a 5-1 win over Notre Dame on Saturday, throwing 64 shots on goal.

Adam Victorino, Ryder Richmond, Zach Bannister and Cole Rafuse all had a goal and an assist, while Hayden Clayton rounded out the scoring and Cal Schell made 26/27 saves for the Bombers (36-13-6-0).

Jarrett Penner replied for the Hounds (18-30-5-2) and Logan Dyck made 59/64 saves.  The Hounds wrap up their weekend Sunday in La Ronge.