The Prince Albert Mintos finished off a two game homestand with a victory as they downed the Yorkton Maulers 6-3 at the Art Hauser Centre on Friday evening.
Konnor Watson, Abinet Klassen, Van Taylor, Carter Cole, Simon Garchinski and Owen Nelson scored for Prince Albert while Tyson Zeigler, Lucas Hvidston and Boston Melnyk scored for Yorkton.
“I thought it was a fairly solid game by us.” said Minto assistant coach Dane Byers. “We did a lot of the little things correctly tonight. Hank (Josh Henry) played well. We capitalized on our chances and that’s what it’s going to come down to in the playoffs.”
Prince Albert would open the scoring at the 6:50 mark of the first period as Konnor Watson would strike for his sixth goal of the season with a highlight reel between-the-legs shot from in close. Owen Dyck and Carter Cole assisted on the play.
A power play goal from Tyson Zeigler would draw Yorkton even after one period of play. Hvidston and Boston Schmidt assisted on the play.
Shots favored the Mintos 11-8.
A breakdown by Yorkton would lead to a partial two-on-none break for the Mintos and captain Van Taylor would take full advantage with his seventh goal of the season with 18:41 remaining in the second period giving Prince Albert a 2-1 advantage. Will Whitter and Taite Donkin picked up helpers.
Boston Melnyk would respond for Yorkton with his second goal of the season with 5:27 remaining in the middle frame. Hvidston and Brady Simpson assisted on the play.
In the final minute of the second period, Simon Garchinski would give the Mintos a one goal advantage heading into the intermission with his second of the season with 30.9 seconds remaining. Carter Bergen and Lincoln Rogers assisted on the play.
Carter Cole’s fourth goal of the season would come with 17:31 remaining in the second period to pad the Minto lead to 4-2. Watson and Kelan Simmonds assisted on the play.
Lucas Hvidston would strike on the power play to bring the Maulers back within a single goal with 12:10 remaining in the third period. Shaden Duliak had the lone helper.
That would be as close as Yorkton would get as the Mintos would pull away with markers from Owen Nelson and Abinet Klassen in the final 10 minutes of the third period.
Josh Henry earned the win in goal for the Mintos making 23 saves. Owen Sinclair made 28 stops for the Maulers.
The Mintos return to action on Thursday when they travel to Saskatoon to take on the Contacts at Merlis Belsher Place. The Contacts find themselves on the outside looking in on the playoffs sitting four points back of the Tisdale Trojans for the eighth and final playoff spot in the SMAAAHL.
Byers says the Mintos will have to be prepared for the Contacts, despite the disparity in the standings.
“It’s a building that’s a hard place to play. It’s quiet. We’ve got to create some energy within our team, within ourselves, and be ready because they’re fighting for a playoff spot. All these games are huge heading in for the playoffs, trying to get home ice. Whether it’s getting home ice or fighting to be in the playoff spot, they’re all big games. But this is a fun time of year to play. This is why the kids all play the game. This is why we all love the game, is when the games are big at this time of year.”
Puck drops at 7 p.m.
