The Nipawin Hawks finally got over the hurdle that was the Melfort Mustangs with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Mustangs in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League action from Melfort.
The Dec. 1 win was the Hawks’ first over the Mustangs this season after losing each of the previous four matchups.
The game got off to a solid start for the Hawks as Brandan Arnold scored his 18th of the season to put the Hawks in front 1-0.
Despite giving up the first goal the Mustangs refused to quit and were rewarded as Tristen Elder scored a pair of goals less than five minutes apart to put the Mustangs in front 2-1 heading into the first intermission.
The Mustangs pushed their lead to 3-1 in the second period as Kalem Zary scored his fifth of the year at 1:11.
The game remained 3-1 in favour of the Mustangs until 6:14 of the third period when Josh McDougall scored his first of two goals in the period for the Hawks.
McDougall scored his second of the night with less than 1:30 to play to tie the score at three and send the game into overtime.
In the extra session Arnold scored his second of the night and 19th of the season to give the Hawks the 4-3 win.
Jake Anthony picked up the win in the Hawks goal turning aside 43 of the 46 shots he faced, while Evan Plotnik was charged with the loss for the Mustangs giving up four goals on 36 shots as the Mustangs outshot the Hawks 46-36.
Both teams are back in action Dec. 2 as the Hawks visit the Flin Flon Bombers, and the Mustangs play host to the Weyburn Red Wings.
