The Melfort Mustangs scored three goals in the third period to skate to a 4-1 win over the Humboldt Broncos on Friday night.

It was the second meeting of the season between the two rivals, with Melfort winning the first contest 2-1.

Despite the four goals and 46 shots allowed by the Broncos, it was, for the most part, a fairly defensive game, according to Assistant Coach Mark Cross.

"I don't think the shots were indicative. I think, especially in the first period, we kept everything to the outside and did a decent job keeping them at bay, but as the game went on, they kept coming and pressuring and it led to some defensive breakdowns."

A scoreless tie was broken at 7:49 of the second period when former Bronco Andrew Thompson got the scoring started.

Leading 1-0 after two periods, Melfort pushed their lead to 2-0 at 6:48 of the third period, when Justin Ball got his fourth goal of the season on the power play.

The Broncos would get a man advantage of their own shortly after, and following a successful kill from the Mustangs, Adam Hergott made it 3-0 just 19 seconds after the penalty expired.

Cross noted that their missed chances added up.

"That seemed to be the story of the night. We had opportunities and if we score on one of those, maybe we start generating some momentum and it's a different game," he explained. "It's just something we will have to look at for (Saturday) night, and maybe just execution a little better."

Matthieu Gomercic got the Broncos on the board late in the game, scoring on a shorthanded goal after the Mustangs turned the puck over in the Humboldt end.

Melfort would add their fourth goal with less than two minutes to play after Loch Morrison's point shot deflected off a body in front and past Broncos goaltender Jacob Wassermann.

The Humboldt-born goaltender was busy in his net, as Melfort fired 46 shots on goal, with Wassermann stopping 42 pucks in his second straight start.

Despite taking the loss in Melfort, the Broncos can quickly erase the game from their mindset, as the Mustangs come to Humboldt on Saturday night.

"We did a few things alright there, but definitely some things we can change. I think we will have to bring a more 60 minute effort if we want to have a good run at these guys," noted Cross on Saturday's game.

Faceoff at the Elgar Petersen Arena will be 7:30pm.

Across the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, there were two other games on the ice.

In North Battleford, the North Stars skated to a 5-2 win over the Melville Millionaires, while in Nipawin, the Hawks shutout the visiting Yorkton Terriers 5-0.