By Jeff D'Andrea

Mintos effort ‘total humiliation’ in 7-3 loss to Contacts

Dec 16, 2014 | 8:40 PM

The Prince Albert Mintos gave up four unanswered goals to the Saskatoon Contacts in the second period, leading to their 7-3 demise Tuesday at the Art Hauser Centre. The Contacts leapfrogged ahead of the Mintos into fifth place while handing the Mintos their third-straight defeat.

The Mintos led 2-1 after the first before Contacts rookie Dino Antoniadis scored in his debut even-strength to start the destructive second stanza period. The next three Contacts goals came on the power play in the second frame, two off the stick of Jordan Borstmayer and one from Jimmy Lambert. They finished 4-9 on the night with the man-advantage.

“We weren’t great on the kill for covering in the right places, said Mintos coach Todd Becker. “Up until then, we thought we were playing well and we were right with them. But there were breakdowns in our end and we let in some soft goals—two that we should have had.

“It’s total humiliation for the end result. We have to try and figure out a way from this and get ready for Thursday (home game against the Beardy’s Blackhawks).

Contacts’ forward Garrett Pilon had three points, a goal and two assists, as he continues to lead the SMAAAHL in scoring with 17 goals and 51 points.

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The Contacts’ top line did all kinds of damage as Jimmy Lambert and Kole Lind each had four point nights, with Lambert getting two goals and two assists, while Lind had a goal and two helpers.

Their centreman, captain Garrett Pilon, had a three point night with a goal and two assists. He leads the league in scoring with 49 points in 25 games.

Now after Tuesday’s explosion, Lind and Lambert are right behind him ranking second and third with 46 and 43 points respectively on the year.

Pilon is the son of former Prince Albert Raider and ex-NHL’er Rich Pilon, an assistant coach with the Contacts, and the cousin of current Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Ryan Pilon.

Like cousin Ryan, Garrett was drafted into the WHL, in the seventh round by the Kamloops Blazers in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft. The Blazers signed him to a WHL standard contract this year.

The Mintos got their goals from Reed Gunville and Erik Gardiner in the first period to take a 2-1 lead.

Keegan Tiringer scored a shorthanded goal for the Mintos in the final minute of the game to make it a 7-3 score.

Mintos needing more in goal

Mintos goaltender Derrick Hucul was pulled in the second period after surrendering three goals on 16 shots. Taylor UnRuh, who came in relief of Hucul, gave up the remaining four goals on 13 shots.

The Mintos pair of rookie goaltenders rank in the bottom third in SMAAAHL in save percentage. UnRuh is ranked 17^th out of 24 goaltenders with a .890 save percentage, while Hucul is 18^th at .885.

“We’re happy for UnRuh and Hucul, they’re good goalies but they’re no different than a forward or a defenceman,” said Becker. “They have to find their way to be mentally prepared just as anybody that’s in front of them.

“That was evident tonight, one soft one,” Becker added on the opening goal of the game where Hucul gave up a soft, blocker side goal to Contacts forward Kole Lind. “There’s no reason why he shouldn’t have had it and I know he’d want another chance at it.”

Two more until Christmas

The Mintos have two more home games at the Art Hauser Centre before enjoying their holiday break and possible Mac’s Midget AAA Tournament berth in Calgary.

The Mintos will host the Beardy’s Blackhawks on ‘Food Bank Night’ Thursday before facing off against the Swift Current Legionnaires on Saturday.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea