Natives fall to Steelers in OT

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Published on Monday, October 22, 2018

By Eoin Devereux

Neepawa Banner & Press

It’s been repeated in arenas across the land, time and again that a two-goal lead is the worst one you could possibly have in hockey. The Neepawa Natives proved there might be some merit to that old clique, as they surrendered a multi-goal lead twice to the Selkirk Steelers, on Saturday, Oct. 20, eventually falling in overtime 5-4. 

Throughout the course of the game, Neepawa was simply the better team, outshooting, outskating and outplaying Selkirk. That exceptional effort would eventually lead to a mid-first period goal by Mackenzie Belinski. Then early in the second, Brad Marshall doubled Neepawa’s lead. Selkirk bounced back from that 2-0 deficit, with a pair of goals halfway through the period. 

Neepawa immediately reclaimed that two-goal cushion, as Scott Mickoski and Mackenzie Belinski both scored before the end of the period, making it 4-2 heading into the final 20 minutes of play.

The third period would not go Neepawa’s way, but not for a lack of effort. The Natives kept the pressure on Steelers goaltender Levi Mitchell, who closed out the night with 51 saves. After scoring 7:25 into the third, Selkirk put in the equalizer with just 1:27 left in the game, as Connor Barley notched his eighth of the year. 

In the 3-on-3 overtime session, both teams had tremendous opportunities early. Ultimately,  it was Selkirk who took advantage, scoring the game-winner with 1:59 left in the OT session. 

The overtime defeat dropped Neepawa’s record to 4-6-1-1, good enough for 10 points on the year. It also dropped them a point behind Selkirk in the standings, who are 5-5-1-0, with a game in hand on the Natives.