Blues Let 2 Points Slip Away Against Steelers

The Winnipeg Blues let a 3-0 third period lead slip away, and fell 4-3 in a shootout to the Selkirk Steelers at the MTS Ice Plex.

The final score isn't surprising, as 4 of the 5 meetings between the two clubs this season have ended 4-3.  But this one is going to be a tough one to swallow.

Building off their 7-2 win over Neepawa back on Tuesday, the Blues came out firing in the first period and managed to put 2 pucks behind Joey Rewucki, who was stellar yet again against the Blues.   Paul Bonar and Evan Gravenor each lit the lamp as the Blues outshot the Steelers 23-3 in the opening frame.

In the 2nd, Jeff Borse scored his 5th of the season, giving the Blues a 3-0 lead heading into the third. 

Everything seemed to be looking in the Blues favor, as they had a 39-13 shot advantage and 3-0 goal advantage heading into the third period.

But thanks to the goaltending of Rewucki, the Steelers clawed their way back into the game with a pair of goals 37 seconds apart from Cody Waterman and Joel Ridgeway.   Then midway through the third Dylan Heide would tie the game and send it to overtime.

Once again, the Blues outshot Selkirk 15-10 in the third, and 54-23 overall after 3 periods.

In overtime it was all Winnipeg, but they couldn't solve Rewucki, outshooting the Steelers 5-0.

In the shootout, all 3 Blues shooters would also be stumped by Rewucki, and Joel Ridgeway would be the only scorer, giving the Steelers a 4-3 shootout win.

That's the third 4-3 shootout win by the Steelers over the Blues this season.  They also have a 4-3 overtime win, and a 5-3 win.

The Blues have outshot the Steelers in each game, except one where they were tied, but have come up on the short end of the scoreboard.

In 5 games this season, the Blues have outshot Selkirk 207-144, but their record against the Steelers falls to 0-1-1-3. 

The Blues will return to action this Saturday night when they'll face the Waywayseecappo Wolverines at the MTS Ice Plex.   The Blues won the last meeting between to two clubs 7-3 in Wayway back on November 13th.

Puck drop is set for 7:30.