In their previous several victories, the Estevan Bruins had dominated their opponents on special teams. With only one power play on the night on Saturday, February 16, their even strength play against the Weyburn Red Wings needed to step up. Led by Michael McChesney, it did exactly that.

McChesney scored three goals and added an assist, while Kadin Kilpatrick turned aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced as the Bruins again trampled the Red Wings 7-2 on home ice. Jevon Schwean and Drew Anderson responded for the Red Wings, while Ben Laidlaw stopped 37 of 44 shots against him.

After the game, the buzz in the arena centered on McChesney, who scored goals 27, 28, and 29 on the year. All three of his goals came from hard work on the cycle, and two came from within three feet of the crease.

"I felt like we kind of got off to a slow start," McChesney said of the win. "We got that first goal right away and then (head coach Chris Lewgood) tapped us on the shoulder and said 'let's go' and our line kicked into high gear. We had way better communication and were talking about plays on the bench and then went out and executed." 

That first goal came from Isaiah Thomas, just 3:39 in as his line worked a cycle before Kolton Leslie fed him out front. Thomas had to fight his way through a check to get the first shot away, then through another to get his chance at the rebound that he pushed past Laidlaw.

Then McChesney's line struck for the first of what would be four times. McChesney took the shot from the left circle and while Laidlaw made the initial stop, the rebound sat in front of him for Jayden Davis, who finished it off. 

The Red Wings pulled back within one on the power play in the second, with Schwean one-timing home his sixth of the year, but the Bruins restored their two-goal lead when Bronson Adams's point shot snuck through Laidlaw. There was some confusion at first about who the goal would go to, with Bryce Platt setting the screen, but in the end Adams was awarded his first career goal.

"I don't think I've seen a guy work so hard on getting shots through and hitting the net," said Bruins associate coach Jeff Smith of Adams's goal. "He's in and out of the lineup and for him to score his first goal, and he was plus five tonight. I think this was his best game of the season."

The Red Wings soon got back within one again as, off a faceoff to the left of Kilpatrick, they pushed the puck forward and Anderson swooped in and burried his eighth. But just like that, the Bruins got their two-goal lead back again when Tanner Manz fed Turner Ripplinger in the slot and Ripplinger blasted his 25th past Laidlaw.

McChesney then went to work, scoring the first goal of his natural hat trick to put the Bruins up 5-2. That goal took the wind out of the Red Wings' sails completely, but he added two more in the third for good measure. 

"He's been working hard the last few weeks on the small details of his game," Smith said. "It's really paid off. His other two linemates are helping out and playing at his speed. You give him a chance anywhere on the ice and he's taking advantage of it." 

The Bruins move to 7-1 on the year against the Red Wings and break the 30-win barrier. They also maintain their eight-point lead atop the Viterra Division. 

GAME NOTES

The Bruins have outscored the Red Wings 21-4 in their last three meetings. Michael McChesney has posted seven goals and ten points in those three games.

The Bruins push their home winning streak to ten games. They have not lost at home in regulation since November 22 against Humboldt.

Kadin Kilpatrick is 6-1 in his last seven starts. He sits 10-3 overall on the year with two shutouts and a 2.67 GAA.

Isaiah Thomas was ejected from the game for being the second player to receive a goalie interference minor. The ejection carries with it an automatic suspension.