MELFORT, SK – The Yorkton Terriers battled back from a pair of one-goal deficits but ultimately came up just short on Saturday night, falling 3-2 in a shootout to the Melfort Mustangs at the Northern Lights Palace.
Despite a strong effort that saw the Dogs erase a 2-1 deficit in the second period, the Mustangs prevailed in a five-round shootout to secure the extra point.
The opening minute saw both teams find the back of the net, as the Terriers and Mustangs wasted little time getting on the scoreboard.
Jake Briltz opened the scoring for the Terriers, burying his sixth goal of the season to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
However, the Mustangs responded just 20 seconds later. Following some miscommunication behind the Terriers’ net, the puck found its way out front to Dru Mushumanski, who slipped it past Callum Creig to tie the game at 1-1.
The Mustangs grabbed their first lead of the night with just 10 seconds remaining in the opening period. On the power play, Luke Dekay jammed a loose puck past Creig at the side of the net to give Melfort a 2-1 advantage heading into the intermission.
Yorkton went 0-for-1 on the power play in the opening frame but held a slight 12-10 edge in shots.
The Terriers found themselves in penalty trouble early in the middle frame, taking three consecutive penalties and handing the Mustangs an extended two-man advantage.
However, thanks to some key blocked shots and timely saves from Creig, the Terriers managed to escape the lengthy 5-on-3 penalty kill without surrendering another goal.
Not long after, the Dogs made the Mustangs pay for a costly defensive-zone turnover.
Mathys Morrissette capitalized on the mistake, snapping a shot top shelf past Melfort netminder Luke McKechnie for his eighth goal of the season, pulling Yorkton even at 2-2.
Both teams continued to trade chances throughout the remainder of the period, but neither could break the deadlock as the game remained tied through 40 minutes.
The Terriers narrowly outshot the Mustangs 11-10 in the middle frame, holding a 23-20 advantage in shots through two periods.
With the game deadlocked at 2-2, both teams continued to battle for the go-ahead goal in the final twenty minutes of regulation.
Both sides had opportunities on the power play, but neither could capitalize as the goaltenders stood tall to keep the game tied.
With 60 minutes not enough to decide a winner, the Terriers and Mustangs headed to overtime.
The extra frame saw both teams get brief opportunities with the man advantage, but once again, neither side could find the back of the net, sending the contest to a shootout.
Melfort’s Matthew Bertolin opened the shootout with a goal, while Yorkton’s first two shooters, Nathan Ramos and Tyson Medernach, were both turned aside.
Austin Horbachewsky kept the Terriers alive, finding the back of the net to pull Yorkton even.
However, that would be the lone goal for the Dogs in the shootout, as Mathys Morrissette and Élie Robert were both denied.
With the shootout tied at one goal apiece, Lincoln Rogers stepped up and delivered the winner for the Mustangs, securing a 3-2 shootout victory on home ice.
The Terriers now turn their attention to a gruelling stretch of four games in five nights on the road, beginning Tuesday night in Flin Flon against the Bombers.
