After the Meota Combines blew out the Maymont Settlers 6-1 to even out the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League playoff series at one game a piece in Maymont on Friday, the Settlers fought back with a double-overtime win Sunday in a 6-5 thriller at the Civic Centre and take a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five quarter-final series.
Derek Welford opened the scoring for the Combines, followed shortly by a goal from Maymont’s Kyle Fiddler, with an assist from Maymont captain Kyle Lichtenwald.
Welford scored again to give the Combines the lead before going into the second period, then opened the period with another goal, scoring on Zach Noble’s short side from a cross-ice feed from Daxen Collins. Welford’s line was buzzing as the forward got three goals in less than 23 minutes of game play.
Fiddler responded with another goal on an assist from forward Darren Delainey, but a laser from the point by Meota defenceman Sean Patrick, on assists from captain Scott Maunula and Daxen Collins again put the Combines in the driver’s seat 4-2 with less than a minute remaining in the second.
Maymont wouldn’t settle however. Darren Delainey got his first goal of the night with an assist by Quinton Cubbon, followed by a power play goal from defenceman Nick Strain on a shot that flew over Josh Alook’s glove hand, tying the game 4-4.
Meota got another penalty in the third period (seven Combines skaters weren’t penalized in the game), but a shorthanded goal by Combines forward Troy Watt off the rush pushed Meota ahead. Watt finished the goal with an Alex Ovechkin-like celebration.
Not to be outdone, Maymont’s assistant captain Chad Bernier, who was on the ice for Watt’s goal, buried a goal to tie the game late in the third, on assists from linemates Scott Lange and Ty Steacy each getting on the scoresheet.
Consistent goaltending from Zach Noble kept the Settlers in the game, and shots at he end of regulation were 40-15 in favour of Meota.
Players were noticeably tired during the first overtime period although there were scoring chances, including a breakaway by Kyle Fiddler who tried to complete a hat trick, but was stoned by Alook.
The most action came late in the second overtime period, when Meota defenceman David Greyeyes got a game misconduct from a check-from-behind in Meota’s end and a five-minute major. Darren Delainey scored the game-winner for Maymont.
Delainey and Fiddler each finished the game with three points, while Scott Maunula and Daxen Collins combined for seven assists.
The next game will be played in Maymont at 8:00 p.m. Friday.
A fifth game, if needed, will take place Saturday at a yet to be determined location.
SPHL & SWHL Playoff Update
Things are becoming a lot clearer around the Saskatchewan Prairie Hockey League and the Saskatchewan West Hockey League as their first round playoff series near their conclusion.
In the SPHL, the defending league champion Edam Three Stars have advanced to the semifinals following a three-game sweep over the Radisson Wheatkings, which was highlighted by a dominant 16-2 win in the third and deciding contest.
After suffering an overtime loss to the eighth seeded Glaslyn North Stars, the top ranked Hafford Hawks have bounced back to take a 2-1 series lead and have a chance to move on to the next round with a Game 4 triumph Thursday in Turtleford at 8:30 p.m.
If required, a fifth and final game would be held Sunday in Hafford at 5:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Battleford Beaver Blues and Shellbrook Silvertips are tied up at one game each in their quarter-final matchup, with the third game in that series taking place at the Battleford Arena Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
The two sides will then play again Saturday in Battleford in a 8 p.m. affair, with the fifth and final game occuring Sunday at 8:30 p.m. in Shellbrook if needed.
In the SWHL, both best-of-five semifinal series are set in stone as the Wilkie Outlaws will face the Unity Miners and the Macklin Mohawks will take on the Kindersley Red Lions.
The Outlaws, who have won the last three league championships, will start off the series on home ice Friday at 8:30 p.m.
The Miners, who gave the Outlaws their only loss of the year in the final regular season game, will host the second matchup between the two sides on Friday, Feb. 23 at 8:30 p.m.
Game three of the series will head back to Wilkie on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 8:30 p.m.
If needed, game four would be held in Unity on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 8:30 p.m.
The fifth and final game, if required, would take place in Wilkie on Tuesday, Mar. 6.
Meanwhile, only the first two games in the Mohawks and Red Lions series had been finalized as of press time.
The Mohawks will host game one on Sunday at 5:30 p.m., with the second matchup being held in Kindersley Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.
