The Estevan Bruins wouldn’t want to win too many games the way they won over the Battlefords North Stars on Friday, November 9, but the two points were reward enough for a gutsy game.

Jake Anthony was strong in goal with 32 saves and Bryce Platt scored with only 6.7 seconds to spare to tie the game and force overtime, as the Bruins downed the North Stars 2-1 in a shootout. Michael McChesney and Turner Ripplinger both scored in the shootout while MacGregor Sinclair got the North Stars goal in regulation. 

It was a rare defensive battle between two teams known both this year and in years past for their goal-scoring prowess. Through the first period, the teams had played almost tentative hockey, with the Bruins finding the goal post twice, once each for McChesney and Platt, and Sinclair and Ryan Gill missing on a two-on-none. 

It took until midway through the third period for the North Stars to finally put a goal on the board. As the two teams opened the pace up, the Bruins tried and failed to clear the puck. Sinclair took advantage, knocking down a clearing attempt and turning around and shooting in one motion to beat Anthony for the first goal of the game. 

The Bruins pressed late but appeared to be stymied. In a last gambit, they pulled the goaltender and threw everything they had at the North Star net, but the faceoff with just 11 seconds left appeared to be the last of the game. 

Off that draw, McChesney was taken down but had the presence of mind to poke the puck to TJ Irey. Irey fired the puck toward the goal, creating a rebound for Platt, who used his size to muscle in on the loose puck and bang it past an irate Joel Grzybowski to tie the score. 

The two teams traded intermittent chances in overtime, but even the three-on-three play couldn’t produce a goal. The two teams went to the penalty shot contest, which, in stark contrast to the regulation play, saw goals quickly.

First, McChesney took a shot that trickled through Grzybowski and just barely squeaked over the line. Then, after Anthony stoned Quinton Loon-Stewardson, Ripplinger fired a shot low to the glove side for the 2-0 win.

Anthony shut the door on Sinclair to give Estevan the win, and the Bruins move to 12-10 on the season. Estevan gets right back in action on Saturday night against the Kindersley Klippers, with puck drop coming at 7:30. Catch the game on Rock 106. 

GAME NOTES

Estevan has been in two shootouts this season, both in the past three games. They have won both and surrendered just one goal on thirteen shots. 

Jake Anthony won his second straight game, moving to 6-5 on the year. He's stopped 74 of 76 shots in the two games and stopped a two-on-none rush in each.

Bryce Platt’s goal was his eighth on the year and marked his fifth straight game with a goal, the longest streak by a Bruin on the season. The Bruins are 7-1 when Platt scores. 

Estevan moves to 2-1 on the year against the North Stars. They have won five of their last seven games in Battlefords, losing one in a shootout last season.