The Estevan Bruins made yet another valiant comeback attempt on Saturday, November 10 against the Kindersley Klippers. This time, however, they left themselves too big a hill to climb.

Kindersley scored three times in the opening period and Justen Close made 26 saves on 28 shots as the Klippers downed the Bruins 3-2 in the second game of Estevan’s road trip. Jake Heerspink and Jerzy Martin replied with Jake Anthony posting 38 saves.

The Klippers roared out of the gate, burying their first just 1:54 in. Austin Nault collected the rebound of a Josh Fletcher shot off the glass that bounced out to him and slapped it past Anthony for a lead the Klippers never relinquished. 

Kindersley added two more at even strength in the first. Caden Benson won a battle below the goal line and fed the puck out front to Damon McKenzie, who hammered it low-blocker on Anthony from between the hash marks. With just 3:30 left in the first, Clay Keeley accelerated into the Bruins zone and fed the puck back door for Ian Hillis, who scored the eventual game-winner. 

Estevan got on the board on the man advantage in the second. The Bruins passed the puck around as they entered the zone, spreading the Klippers thin before the puck found Heerspink as he slipped in alone. Heerspink outwaited Close with a slick pullback move and roofed a shot on him to break Close’s shutout bid.

Martin got the Bruins within one just 1:24 later. Kolton Leslie took a hit to make a play, pushing the puck through to Kade McMillen, who took off with Martin on a 2-on-1. McMillen slid the puck over to Martin and the second-year forward finished over Closes’ shoulder for his second of the campaign.

That, however, was as close as Estevan would get. The Klippers shut them down in the third, getting the bounces they needed and a run of three odd penalties in the final ten minutes to hold the Bruins away from their net.

Estevan drops their second game of the road trip to move to 12-11 on the year. They wrap up the road trip Sunday in Humboldt. Puck drop is 3:30 on Rock 106.

GAME NOTES

Bryce Platt’s five-game goal streak ended, though his point streak continues as he earned an assist on Heerspink’s goal. He sits fourth on the Bruins with eight goals in 15 games. 

Estevan’s five-game winning streak also ended. The Klippers halted a five-game losing skid in the win. The last five-game winning streak for Estevan in the regular season was in October of 2016. They extended that streak to six with an 8-7 win over Melfort, then seven with a 5-0 win over Yorkton.

Jake Anthony faced over forty shots for the second time in his three straight starts. In his last three games, he is 2-1 with a .957 save percentage and a GAA of 1.66.