Terriers 5 @ Millionaires 3 / Stamps Win A Biggie

Trying to figure out how to write this without upsetting one fan base or the other.

The Melville Millionaires led the Yorkton Terriers 2-0 after one period, but gave up the next 3 goals. It looked like the Terriers might steal a 3-2 win on the road, before Mike Rogoschewsky tied it up on a Mils PP with about 5 minutes left.

The Mils had another late chance, and Yorkton's Warren Shymko held his ground, there was a bit of a scrum, and Mark Owen was picked out of the pile, and given 2 minutes for slashing with under 3 minutes left in a 3-3 tie.

Riley Paterson scored his 2nd of the game on the ensuing PP to make it 4-3 Terriers, and Clarke Breitkreuz added the empty-netter for a 5-3 final.

I didn't see the slash, and I assume Owen got an extra whack on Shymko after it was covered. I'm all for protecting goaltenders, but that's not a penalty you see called very often late in a tie game. I'd be saying the same thing if it happened the other way.

I just thought both teams deserved points, and it looked like overtime was on its way for the fourth time in the season series... and an iffy call basically decided the game.

Melville Coach/GM Jamie Fiesel was irate, and after the empty-netter, tossed every stick from the Mils' bench onto the ice, before referee Keith Salamon finally showed him the door. Just saw it again on CTV. HAHA!

By no means am I disappointed the Terriers won. They have their sights set on 1st place, and their chances got a little better on Friday night. I DO however, feel for the Millionaires, who in all likelihood would have got at least a single point if not for the late penalty call. Just a tough way to lose a game. They now have just 1 game in hand on Notre Dame for 5th place, and a 2 point lead.

Paterson scored twice for the Terriers, Breitkreuz had 1g-2a, Justin Buzzeo kept his point streak alive at 11 games, with his 31st of the season, and Brant Remenda added his first as a Terrier.

Lucas Froese and Tyson Newell gave Melville the 2-0 first period lead.

The stats online are way off on a few. They have Jeremy Boyer scoring Remenda's goal, and Remenda without even an assist. He CLEARLY walked in off the point and ripped one over a sprawled Zach Rakochy on a late first period PP. I think Remenda also got gypped on Paterson's game winner. I think it was him who sent a point shot through and Patty tipped it. Anyway, it says unassisted.

Yorkton was 3/5 on the PP, Melville was 1/3.

The win was a huge one for the Terriers, who now have a 5 point lead atop the Conference, with Kindersley falling 5-4 in overtime to the Weyburn Red Wings. The Klippers out-shot the Wings 50-something to 20-something. It was 4-1 Weyburn in the third, so credit the KK's for storming back late.

Really, a 5 point lead is just as good as 6 (almost) for the Terriers... since it still take 3 games for Kindersley to make that spread up, and they only have 5 games left. In baseball terms, the Terriers' "Magic Number" to clinch the pennant is 3. Any combination of Terriers wins and/or Klipper losses equalling 3 would wrap up top spot. I still think it's far from a done deal though. 4 of Kindersley's 5 remaining games are on home ice, and they finish with a home and home against Battleford. The North Stars COULD know their fate by that point. And if they know where they're finishing, and if it's 4th or 5th, do you think they'd dress their big guns when they start a Survivor Series 3 days later? The Terriers need to take care of business on their own, and now wait for Kindersley to lose 3. 4 of Yorkton's last 6 games are on the road, including one in Kindersley. Obviously if the Terriers were to win that one, it would all but ice it... but after the way the last meeting there.... they don't want to bank on HAVING to win that one!

The Klippers don't play on Saturday, while the Terriers return to home ice against Melville. Yorkton has, kinda quitely, won 4 in a row, and 7 of their last 9... after snapping a 7 game losing skid.

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Shelby Gray and Tony Partridge each had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Marshall also scored as the Swan Valley Stampeders shaded the Neepawa Natives 3-2 on the road.

That puts the Stamps 8 points up on Neepawa for 5th, and both teams have 10 games left. Another win Saturday at home over the Natives might be enough to start burying Neepawa.

Swan's also now one point back of Wayway for 4th with a game in hand.

The Wolverines are also on home ice Saturday night, against the Winnipeg Saints.