Wings Start Slow in Melfort After 10 Day Break

The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings started their three game road swing Wednesday night in Melfort after 10 full days off, and they finished with a 4-1 loss to the Mustangs that was closer than the score would show.

After Nick Kovacs started the game off with a colossal hit in his own zone for the Red Wings, Max Monnette was given a high sticking call behind the play on an icing call, and the Mustangs powerplay went to work. With 30 seconds left on the man advantage, Eric Kahl would stop a shot from the point but the rebound would stick in the slot for too long before Zac Somers would put it in the back of the net for the Mustangs.

Nothing else would get called through the rest of the period, but with just over a minute left in the period the Mustangs would score when Wyatt Day was sprung on a partial breakaway to give the Mustangs a two goal lead.

After 1: Red Wings 0 – 2 Mustangs, shots 9-6 Mustangs

The Red Wings came out flying in the second period with some good chances early, but Joel Favreau in net got the stops. Both Braigh LeGrandeur and Mi-Kwan Tallman got chances where they shot the puck and slipped the puck through the five hole, but Favreau’s pad caught just enough to redirect the puck sideways behind him.

The Wings were outshooting the Mustangs 7-4 halfway through the period, but another two penalties for the Red Wings make it a tough period for the Wings. Kahl made his biggest save of the game on the second PK after stopping the first shot with the rebound kicking out to his right, and he flopped over to his stomach for a huge desperation save with the paddle of his stick.

Off the opening faceoff, Jordan Edwards was pitchforked by Wyatt Day of the Mustangs, and a scrum would ensue before Edwards and Day dropped the gloves. Edwards’ first punch dropped Day to a knee, and Edwards added a few more for good measure before they were both escorted off the ice.

That would spark another strong start to the period for the Red Wings, and seconds after the second powerplay ended Ethan Whillans would bang home a rebound for his sixth of the season with an assist from Mi-Kwan Tallman.

Just 37 seconds later though and the Mustangs would get it right back on a powerplay one timer that was tipped by Zac Somers to restore the two goal lead.

Late in the game, the Red Wings would try to get Kahl pulled from the net, but he’d get as far as the blue line before he had to turn around and watch as the puck went into the back of his net for an empty net goal that won’t be credited as one.