YORKTON, SK: Logan Belton and Reilley Kotai scored just 55 seconds apart in the second period, sparking the Melfort Mustangs to erase a 3-1 deficit and secure a 7-3 victory over the Yorkton Terriers at Westland Insurance Arena.
In their second meeting of the season—and the second in just six days—the Mustangs once again opened the scoring. Reilley Kotai found space in the slot and rifled a shot under the bar, beating Terriers goaltender Ethan Farrow to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
The Terriers, however, showed the resilience they’ve displayed all season. On the power play, rookie forward William Léonard capitalized on a loose puck in the crease, snapping it past Kristian Coombs to tie the game at 1-1. The goal marked Léonard’s seventh of the season.
The Terriers struck again in the final minute of the opening frame. David Coyle somehow managed to direct the puck to Jeff Hammond, who executed a smooth deke to his forehand in tight and slid it past Coombs, giving the Terriers their first lead of the night.
The Terriers went 1-for-1 on the power play, while the Mustangs couldn’t convert on their lone opportunity. Shots on goal in the first period favored the Terriers, 11-9.
The second period couldn’t have started any better for the home team. Jeff Hammond received a pass from Harrison Aldridge and snapped home his second goal of the night, beating Coombs off the post and in to extend the lead to 3-1.
However, that lead quickly vanished. Logan Belton and Reilley Kotai scored just 55 seconds apart, tying the game at 3-3 in a flash. The Mustangs regained the lead on the power play, as Belton slid the puck through Farrow’s five-hole for his second goal of the period and 20th of the season.
As the second period ended, the Mustangs were assessed a bench minor, giving the Terriers a lengthy 5-on-3 power play to begin the final frame.
The Mustangs held a slim 22-21 shot advantage through forty minutes.
The Terriers couldn’t capitalize on their 5-on-3 power play to start the third period, managing to test Coombs just once.
Shortly after the successful penalty kill, the Mustangs extended their lead. Binner scored his first of two goals in the period, making it 5-3.
Midway through the period, the Terriers were awarded a five-minute power play after Kotai was ejected for a knee-on-knee collision with Zawatsky. However, it was the Mustangs who found the back of the net, as Binner struck again with a post-and-in shot past Farrow, extending the lead to 6-3.
The Mustangs added another late goal for good measure, sealing a dominant 7-3 victory.
The Terriers will look to bounce back tomorrow night on the road in Canora against the Notre Dame Hounds.