Sometimes in hockey, one team just has another team's number. There could be any number of reasons why, and it could go against all logic in the standings, but it happens nonetheless. It certainly seems to have happened to the Estevan Bruins with the Kindersley Klippers, as they dropped their third straight game against Kindersley on Saturday, October 19. 

Five different Klippers scored and Zach Johnson turned aside 48 of 49 shots he faced as the Bruins fell 5-1, losing the second straight game of the weekend at Affinity Place. Cody Davis scored the lone Bruins goal, while Keenan Rancier suffered through another uncharacteristic night with five goals against on 32 shots.

"There were just too many glaring mistakes," said Bruins head coach and GM Chris Lewgood. "Huge mental errors that end up costing us throughout the game. The overall gameplay was fair, but the amount of costly mistakes was far too many."

The Klippers wasted no time getting on the board, striking just 2:34 in. Scott McKenzie broke over the Bruin line and, in a moment that would sum up the Bruins luck on the night, took a shot from long range that tipped off a Bruins stick and over Rancier's shoulder. Sear Michalevich kept the offense rolling just four minutes later, driving the Bruins net off the rush and chipping a pass from the far side past Rancier. 

It got worse from there for the Bruins. With two players off on penalties on the same play, Estevan killed off most of the 5-on-3. With just 27 seconds left in the two penalties, Dane Hirst decided to stop trying to feed his forwards for a one-timer and take a shot himself, slipping one through a screen and putting Kindersley up 3-0.

A better Bruin effort marked the start of the second but still they couldn't solve Johnson. And the Klippers made good on their first good chance, working an extended cycle and feeding the puck out to Tyler Traptow who, left alone in front, faked Rancier out to the backhand and slipped it home. Any momentum the Bruins might've had was snuffed out quickly after that, as just 22 seconds later Dawson McKenzie unleashed a blistering wrist shot from the side that beat Rancier cleanly and made it 5-0.

"I thought from the offensive side we generated a ton of chances," Lewgood said, "but we weren't able to finish and take advantage of our opportunities. I'd say if we look at the video, we'll probably have out-chanced them despite not deserving to win."

The Bruins brought a better effort still in the third. They posted 23 shots in that frame alone, nearly matching their total to that point, but only Davis, walking out of the corner and slipping a backhand through the five-hole, found any cracks in Johnson's armour.

The Bruins drop the second straight game at home and now have a six-day rest before facing the Weyburn Red Wings, the first game of a home-and-home. Puck drop in Weyburn is 7:30 on Friday, October 25. The game will air on Rock 106.