Mitch Calvert
Déja vu.
The result was all too familiar to the Muskie boys’ hockey team Monday night as the host International Falls Broncos exacted revenge for a 4-3 overtime loss here last month with a 6-0 victory.
The black-and-gold lost in similar fashion a year ago, dropping a 7-1 decision on U.S. soil after winning the first game of their annual two-game exhibition series 4-0.
“The time off didn’t help us,” Muskie head coach Shawn Jourdain said, referring to the nine-day layoff between games.
“We were so ready for Dryden last Tuesday and then the letdown of the cancellation put a little dent in the sails,” Jourdain noted. “We’ve had some easy games lately, picked up some bad habits, and it sure showed tonight [Monday].
“We played a really good hockey team here and just got outworked,” he admitted.
The Broncos opened the scoring midway through the first when Willie Corrin’s point blast found a hole past a screened Devon Stromness.
It didn’t take long for the Broncos to extend their lead as Chris Little finished off a nice passing play to put the home side up 2-0.
Jourdain tried to halt the momentum there, opting to pull Stromness for Jameson Shortreed, and the move seemed to stem the tide, at least temporarily, as the score remained that way into the first intermission.
But early in the second, Josh Leinum streaked down the wing and beat Stromness over the glove side to give the Broncos a three-goal edge.
The game’s intensity picked up from there, with penalties being called on both sides.
The Muskies had their best chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a 5-on-3 power play for nearly the full two minutes, but failed to generate much pressure on Broncos’ goalie Mike Hart.
“We’ve worked on that for two weeks and they know what they are supposed to do, but when it comes time to execute, they aren’t doing it,” Jourdain said. “I don’t know where to go with that, but it will keep me up [Monday] night.”
Jacob Casareto tallied the Broncos’ fourth goal just over four minutes into the third, then defenceman Blake Museta netted a power-play goal two minutes later when he was allowed to walk out front unobstructed.
Daniel Eldien rounded out the scoring off a rebound with six minutes to play, sending the Broncos’ half of the crowd home happy.
Hart made 23 saves for the shutout, rebounding nicely after surrendering four goals on eight shots in his previous start against Greenway.
The Muskies will have plenty of time to work out the kinks since they don’t resume action until a tournament in Winnipeg on the final weekend of the month.
“We’ve got 10 days to get ready, so it will give us lots of time,” Jourdain remarked.
Their next NorWOSSA action has them travelling to Dryden on Feb. 3.
