It was a busy Friday night across the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, with playoff races tightening, streaks ending, and several teams taking important steps toward the postseason.
Melville Millionaires 5, Estevan Bruins 3
Melville Millionaires forward Rylan Oatman delivered a huge performance, scoring four goals and adding an assist to power the Mils to a 5–3 road win over the Estevan Bruins.
The victory moves Melville three points ahead of Estevan for seventh place in the standings and leaves the Millionaires just a couple points shy of clinching a playoff berth.
Devin Winder also scored for Melville, while Matthew Spencer-Dahl made 33 saves in the win.
Carter Onrait, Rylan Williams and Matthew Ronn replied for the Bruins, who remain just three points ahead of Kindersley Klippers and two up on the Humboldt Broncos for the final playoff spot.
The Bruins and Millionaires will meet again Saturday afternoon in Melville, with puck drop set for 3:00 p.m. at the CN Community Centre.
Weyburn Red Wings 6, Yorkton Terriers 3
The Yorkton Terriers came up short for the second straight game in their bid to clinch the Bunge Division title, falling 6–3 to the visiting Weyburn Red Wings.
Will Munro and Callas Pierce each scored twice for Weyburn, who captured six of eight meetings in the season series and now sit four points back of Yorkton in the division race.
Cash Lanigan, Vinay Junek and Mattias Schoffner scored for the Terriers.
Yorkton returns to action Sunday afternoon on the road against the Melfort Mustangs, while the Red Wings host Melville on Tuesday.
Nipawin Hawks 3, Melfort Mustangs 1
The Nipawin Hawks snapped the Melfort Mustangs 12-game winning streak with a 3–1 victory.
Carter Cole scored the game-winner 7:48 into the third period, while Gage Roberts made 29 saves.
Braeden Jockims extended his impressive goal streak to nine straight games, and Mason Karakochuk added two assists to stretch his league-best point streak to 13 games.
Ethan Hamilton scored the lone goal for Melfort early in the first period.
Flin Flon Bombers 4, Battlefords North Stars 3 (OT)
At the Whitney Forum, the Flin Flon Bombers stayed unbeaten in regulation on home ice after Jack Martin scored 1:34 into overtime for a 4–3 win over the Battlefords North Stars.
The Bombers improve to 24-0-1 at home this season.
Martin also scored in regulation, while Kobe Sawyer had two goals for Battlefords. Charlie Tritt made 28 saves to earn his 21st win of the season.
Flin Flon now needs just a single point to clinch first place.
Humboldt Broncos 7, La Ronge Ice Wolves 5
The Humboldt Broncos kept their playoff hopes alive with a 7–5 road win over the La Ronge Ice Wolves.
Gabriel Kaminski led the way with two goals and an assist, while Oliver Phillips and Tyce Penrod each added a goal and a helper.
Brady Holtvogt made 36 saves in the Broncos’ victory.
Grayden Perozni had two goals and an assist for La Ronge.
