The Estevan Bruins threw everything in their arsenal at the Nipawin Hawks on Tuesday, October 23. Unfortunately for them, Hawks goalie Declan Hobbs had an answer for everything sent his way.

Hobbs stopped 39 saves for a shutout victory, and Austen Flaman scored a goal and added an assist as Nipawin outlasted the Bruins 2-0. Although the Bruins had a heavy shot advantage and drew plenty of power plays, they couldn't solve Hobbs.

Through the first period, Grant Bold was flawless for the Bruins, going save for save with the veteran Hobbs in a busy but scoreless opening 20 minutes. It took a Nipawin power play late in the second for someone to break the deadlock, and it was Christian Bosa. 

Arik Breton fed a pass from the goal line into the Bruins crease, looking for Bosa at the back door. Bronson Adams went down to a knee to block it, but the puck found just enough space to squeeze through Adams onto Bosa's stick. Bosa got just a piece of it as he tipped the pass toward the goal, managing to sneak it by Boldt's outstretched glove. 

It turned out to be all the scoring Nipawin would need. The Bruins pressed and hit Hobbs from every angle. TJ Irey had multiple power play shots. Johnny Witzke was robbed on a cross-crease feed as Hobbs stretched post-to-post for his best save of the night. Every Bruins top scorer had a chance. 

The best of their chances came from Michael McChesney in the third period. While shorthanded, McChesney danced and dangled his way around two Hawks defenders and put himself in the clear. As he came down the right wing side, McChesney fired a shot off the goal post. 

Estevan pulled Boldt late for the extra attacker, but their pushback lasted mere seconds. The Hawks won the faceoff and wired the puck around the boards. Witzke kept it in on the first effort but was soon outmanned, and Flaman iced the game with the empty-net goal. A couple of penalties by the Bruins followed, effectively ending their comeback bid.

With the loss, Estevan drops to 7-8 on the year and 2-5 on the road. They next play against the Flin Flon Bombers on Wednesday night, with the game broadcast on Rock 106.

Highlights:

GAME NOTES

This was the first time Estevan had been shut out all season long. Their last shutout loss was also by a 2-0 score, this one coming on January 30 to the Humboldt Broncos in Humboldt.

Grant Boldt has now gone three games in a row surrendering only one goal. He celebrated his 18th birthday by stopping 25 of 26 shots for a nearly perfect outing.

The Bruins have not won a regular season game in Nipawin since November 27 of 2015. They were 0-2 in Nipawin in 2017-18 in the regular season and 1-3 in the playoffs.