Hodson shines, but Red Wings lose shootout to Mustangs

When it comes to a shootout, the Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings haven't had the best of luck. They have had eleven games go to extra time this season and seven of those to a shootout. The Red Wings have yet to lose a game in overtime, but when it comes to the shootout, they have come out on the winning side just once this year. 

When Saturday night's game against the Melfort Mustangs went to overtime, Weyburn was looking to continue their undefeated streak in the extra period, or at least pick up their second shootout win of the campaign. The Mustangs, though, had other plans, as they would get the win in the shootout, handing the Red Wings a 4-3 loss. 

Weyburn started the scoring late in the first period when Matthew Hodson scored his sixth goal since being acquired by the Red Wings at the trade deadline. His goal, scored on the power play with 32 seconds left in the period, was assisted by Jerome Maharaj and Nicholas Kovacs. 

In the second period, the Mustangs came out firing. 

Aidyn Hutchinson would beat Angelo Zol 4:15 into the middle period to tie the game up. Then, two goals in 67 seconds would give Melfort a two-goal lead. The first was from Clay Sleeva with 9:21 remaining. Then, with 8:14 to play, Tye Evans scored, and Melfort was up 3-1. 

Weyburn would answer before the end of the period, though. Hodson notched his second of the game with 3:56 to go, making it 3-2. Rhett Vedress had the assist on the goal. 

Jacob Visentini would then tie the game up when he scored his 13th of the campaign early in the third period. The power play goal, which came just 3:45 into the third, was assisted by Max Monette and Matthew Hodson, who finished the night with three points. 

From there, neither team was able to score for the rest of the third period, and in the 3-on-3 overtime period. This meant a shootout was coming up. 

In the shootout, Sleeva would score on the first shot for the Mustangs, and from there, no one else would score at either end, handing the Mustangs the win. 

The Red Wings are holding a two-point edge over the Nipawin Hawks for the 8th and final playoff seed with 11 games left in the season. The Red Wings also trail the Estevan Bruins for second in the Viterra Division by four points, and the Melville Millionaires for first by seven points. The Red Wings do have a chance to make up that ground over the last few weeks of the regular season, though, as five of their 11 games are against the Mills or Bruins. 

The Red Wings are back in action Monday afternoon when they host the Millionaires at Crescent Point Place for a Family Day matinee matchup. The puck drops at 3:00 p.m.