The seesaw battle between the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins and Weyburn Red Wings has carried over into 2017.

The two teams met for the sixth time this season, and now each team has won three games after Weyburn came up with a 4-1 victory on home ice over the Bruins.

Just two days after ESTEVAN WON 4-2 ON DECEMBER 30th, the highway 39 rivalry was renewed with the second half of the holiday home-and-home series. And it didn't take long for the scoring to get started.

Just :23 seconds into the game, Red Wings forward Braden Mellon surprised Bruins' goaltender Curtis Meger with a quick backhander from the goal line that bounced off Meger and into the back of the net.

Weyburn would hold that 1-0 lead until midway through the first period when Estevan would capitalize on their first powerplay of the night. Jason Miller rang a shot off the post from the slot area that bounced back out and onto the stick of defenceman Johnny Witzke, who buried his 5th goal of the season to even the score at 1-1.

The Bruins would start the second period with another powerplay, but were unable to beat Carter Phair despite multiple point-blank scoring chances. The Red Wings would build momentum off the penalty kill and use it to take the lead three minutes into the period.

Jamieson Ree fired a shot on Meger that would be stopped, but the rebound sneaked out of Meger's equipment and Ree tapped home the loose puck to give Weyburn a 2-1 lead. The Red Wings would score twice more in the second period to take a 4-1 lead, as Donovan Lumb and Cole Woodliffe beat Meger less than a minute apart midway through the game.

Curtis Meger would be pulled in favour of Nathan Alalouf after that, despite Meger making 26 saves in just 33:35 of playing time.

Estevan would have a chance to trim the deficit at the end of the second period as they were awarded a 5-on-3 in the final minute. However, the Bruins would be unable to beat Phair and the shin pads of the Red Wings defence as the score remained 4-1 heading into the final frame.

The Bruins pushed hard early for a goal to get back in it, but everything they threw at the net would be turned away or knocked down in front. The Red Wings held down the fort and avenged Friday's loss to Estevan, defeating the Bruins 4-1 at Crescent Point Place on New Years Day.

GAME NOTES

- Final shots on goal would be 40-34 for Weyburn. Curtis Meger made 26 saves on 30 shots while Nathan Alalouf stopped all 10 shots he faced in relief.

- Johnny Witzke has now scored a goal in each of his last three games.

- Estevan finished 1/6 on the powerplay while Weyburn was shutout at 0/4.

- Estevan is now 3-3 against Weyburn this season while the Red Wings are 3-2-1. The Bruins are 12 points up on Weyburn for the lead in the Viterra Division.

The Bruins (25-12-0-1) will now look for their first win of 2017 on Friday, January 6th in a heavyweight tilt against the league-leading Battleford North Stars (30-7). Game time is 7:30 at Affinity Place.