A strong third period enabled the Blues to get by the visiting Neepawa Natives Tuesday night by the score of 5-3.
The Blues came out firing in the first with an early goal by Bilton (his 21st of the year) only 1:06 in. That was followed five minutes later when Gianluca Esteves cruised in on the left wing and snapped home his 9th to make it 2-0. Neepawa made it a one goal game with 5:45 left with a powerplay marker and it was 2-1 after 20 minutes.
Opening the second period on the powerplay, the Blues took advantage as Brett Brooks took the feed from Bilton and one-timed it home for his 16th to make it 3-1. But Neepawa didn’t give up and drew back to one later in the period and tied it up with the man advantage of their own with 2:44 left to enter the third tied at three.
Another strong start to a period saw the Blues with early chances to regain the lead but they just couldn’t bury it. At least not until another powerplay opportunity, and with 10:21 left, Brooks made it 4-3 with his second of the night. Kamerin Nault followed that up a minute later with his 21st going up top and the Blues had regained their two goal lead making it a 5-3 final.
Game notes: With an injury (Rafter) and suspension (Browning) on defence, Midget AAA callup Mark Wilson from the Wild had another strong game. Geordie Keane left the game early in the third after taking a puck to the face. The line of Esteves-Bilton-Brooks had a 10 point night. The Boston Pizza player of the game was Brett Brooks while his linemate Gianluca Esteves was the OMG hardest working player. Next up for the Blues, Saturday night versus Portage and then a Sunday afternoon matinee with Selkirk, all at the IcePlex!