Wings take third place playoff spot Tuesday night
In a move that has stunned many in the crowd at Crescent Point Place Tuesday night, it was learned that the brothers Cowie had jumped ship from the Weyburn Red Wings organization.
While tight-lipped, the team will move forward and soldier on while losing two of its point getters. "We're more than just two players and if they (Cowies) didn't want to finish the season, we'll do it on our own without them," said one player who didn't want to be identified. This type of last minute antics by a couple of uncaring players could be a blow to a team's psyche, but the Wings proved that they can move forward stronger without the two brothers.
Yorkton opened the scoring at the 3:05 minute mark of Tuesday night's game when Craig Eisenhut scored amidst some confusion between Red Wing players on the ice.
The Wings later fought back in the second period and appeared to have scored the tying goal as Yorkton's netminder Warren Shymko had to reach behind the line to pull out a Weyburn slap shot out of the air. While Weyburn players celebrated, an out of position referee waived-off the goal stating the puck never crossed the line much to the dismay of those in attendance and the five Wings on the ice who saw the wayward goal.
There would be no scoring in the second period, which gave the Terriers a slim one-goal advantage going into the final period.
This appeared to have all the markings of a goaltenders dual, as both Mitch Kilgore and Shymko stood tall in the nets at both ends of the ice frustrating all shooters who challenged them.
With the Wings pressuring, it was just a matter of time before Jesse Ross, in a mad scramble in front of the Yorkton net, was able to flip the puck past Shymko to knot the game at 1-1 at the 1:30 mark of the third period.
However late in the third period Weyburn was assessed a hooking penalty that had gone uncalled all night by both teams, and while the crowd chanted the name of referee Whitehead (with a slight variation to its spelling) Weyburn's coach Dwight McMillan couldn't believe what had just happened.
Much to the credit of the Red Wings, the players killed the penalty and only had to kill off a few seconds in the upcoming overtime five-minute period.
Regulation time wouldn't settle this contest, so it was off to overtime where the five minutes granted didn't produce any scoring results, but did provide the home town crowd with some entertaining hockey.
Everyone in the stands were on the edge of their seats as they knew, along with the Wings, that this could be the tipping point for a third place standing for the Wings and avoid the fourth place battle for a playoff berth.
In the shootout both netminders continued to frustrate the shooters, but it would be Weyburn's Drew George who would become the evening's hero as he slid the only shootout goal past the Yorkton netminder for the win.
Wings come from behind to capture single shoot out point
While on the road this past weekend the Wings captured an impressive three of a possible four points on the road. Weyburn came from behind after trailing by two goals all game long.
Weyburn's Brock Appleyard and Drew George scored their respective goals early in the third period to force overtime in Humboldt much to the dismay of the Bronco team and fans.
The five-minute overtime period didn't settle anything so it was a shootout where the Broncos squeaked out a shoot out win, but Weyburn walked out with a single point for their hard work during this game.
Overtime win helps Wings in playoff race
Friday night's game in Kindersley stunned the hometown crowd as the Weyburn Red Wings roared into the Klippers realm and skated away with two points from a shoot out victory.
Weyburn's Jesse Ross, Lucas Ulmer, Drew George goals and a power play goal by Keegan Bruce helped tie the contest at 4-4. But it would be Scott Kirkham who would silence the Klippers fans and team as he (Kirkham), would score the overtime goal to seal the game.
Weyburn's penalty-kill players also added to the victory as they protected netminder Mitch Kilgore from all ten Klipper's power play efforts.
Kilgore faced 55 Kindersley shots on the evening while Klipper's netminder faced 26 shots.
The Wings have four more regulation games before playoffs start. The Wings will have home and home games against the Estevan Bruins this Friday and Saturday. The Wings won't see any action after that until Melville comes to town Friday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m.
