MELFORT, SK – The Melfort Mustangs scored three times in the second period as they defeated the Yorkton Terriers 6–1 at Northern Lights Palace to open Game One of their SJHL Semi-Final series.
In the first period, the home side opened the scoring on the power play, as Zac Sommers beat Callum Crieg to make it 1–0.
The Terriers had a power play opportunity of their own later in the period but could not capitalize.
The Mustangs pulled away in the second period, adding three more goals. Zach Turner doubled the lead just 42 seconds into the frame, scoring his first of the playoffs. Bo Eisner added his first postseason goal just before the midway mark, making it 3–0. Will Munro extended the lead to 4–0 late in the period. After forty minutes, the Mustangs outshot the Terriers 29–17.
In the third, it was more of the same, as Munro scored his second of the night just 30 seconds in.
The Terriers finally got on the board when Jaron Desnoyers scored his second of the playoffs, but the Mustangs answered back only 18 seconds later, with Eisner notching his second of the night to restore the five-goal lead.
Things got chippy late in the game when Ashton Paul delivered a dangerous hit from behind on Terriers defenceman Harrison Aldridge, driving him hard into the corner boards. Paul received only a two-minute boarding penalty for the hit. Fortunately, Aldridge was able to stay in the game.
In goal, Callum Crieg stopped 37 of 43 shots for Yorkton, while Melfort’s Kristian Coombs turned aside 28 of 29.
The Terriers will look to bounce back tomorrow night and try to return home with a series split.
