Despite a hot start, scoring two power-play goals in a span of three minutes, the Weyburn Red Wings fell 3-2 in overtime to the Melville Millionaires Friday night. The Red Wings now move to 1-1-1 in the early season, as they prepare for the SJHL Showcase, which starts Sunday in Saskatoon.

The night didn’t start off well for the Red Wings, who were delayed on the trip to Saskatoon by bus troubles. The team pulled into the Horizon Credit Union Centre in Melville at 7:00 p.m. and the start of the game was delayed to 8:00 p.m. to give the Wings time for warm-ups.

The Wings came out firing, despite the change to the routine, which normally sees players arrive two hours before the start of a game. The efforts paid off when Derick Smith tucked the puck past Melville netminder Colby Entz just past the 11-minute mark of the first period. The power play marker was his second of the season, and the second scored with the man advantage. Mike Eskra and Ty Brown assisted on the goal.

The lead was short-lived, though, as Melville tied things up just two minutes later. Damian Bentz notched his first of the campaign, as the Millionaires were on a 5-on-3 power play after Brown was called for interference, then rookie Jordan Kazymyra was called for illegal equipment. The Red Wings killed off what was remaining in the penalty, then Weyburn received another advantage.

This time, it was Mike Eskra who scored with just under six minutes left, as he fired a wrister past Entz from the right face-off circle. The Wings would take the lead, and hold onto it through the second period. Red Wings netminder Carter Phair kept the Wings in the game, as Weyburn was outshot 11-2 in the period.

With neither team scoring in the second, the pressure went up on Melville to even things up. They pulled the feat off just five minutes into the final frame when Trevor Paradise beat Phair for his first of the season. The game remained tied until the teams went to overtime.

In the 3-on-3 extra period, the Millionaires would be the first to score, as Cory Schillo scored his first of the season 2:44 into the overtime period.

The Red Wings will now get ready for the SJHL Showcase. They open the showcase Sunday evening when they take the ice against the Flin Flon Bombers at 7:30 p.m. On Monday afternoon, they play against the Kindersley Klippers. Both of these games will be heard live on Red Wing Radio, K106.