For the second straight weekend, the Flin Flon Bombers split their games but earned three points.
In a pair of home contests, Flin Flon beat Weyburn 4-2 and fell in a shootout 5-4 to the Estevan Bruins.
The Bombers have earned points in each of their last four games. With an 8-6-2-2 record, Flin Flon has 20 points and is tied for the Sherwood Division lead with Nipawin.
“We are definitely playing a lot better than we were on the southern road swing,” said Bombers head coach and general manager Mike Reagan, alluding to a stretch in which the team went 0-4. “There are some positives for sure. I think the confidence is coming back for some of our guys.”
The Bombers dominated the Red Wings last Friday, Oct. 28, outshooting them 69-24.
“That was the most pucks we have ever put to the net in the 10 years I’ve been here,” said Reagan, a former Bomber player in his 10th season as head coach. “I thought we played a great game.”
Reagan said his team skated well. A tenacious forecheck made an impact, generating turnovers to create shots and helping to create nine power-play opportunities, on which Flin Flon netted one goal.
Four different players scored for the Bombers. Defenceman Eric Sinclair, acquired earlier in October, had a pair of assists. Goalie Zac Robidoux stopped 22 of the 24 shots.
On Saturday, Oct. 29, Estevan was able to slip by the Bombers in a shootout to win its fifth straight game. In the shootout, Jason Miller scored for Estevan, while Flin Flon’s trio of shooters was unable to light the lamp.
“From a fan’s perspective, it was maybe an exciting game,” Reagan said. “From a coach’s perspective and our players’ perspective, it was a sloppy game.”
Flin Flon outshot the visitors 49-37. Both teams scored twice on the power play. Brandon Lesko had his eighth and ninth goals of the season for the Bombers.
In a rare occurrence, the Bombers play a pair of weekday games this week. On Wednesday they host Sherwood Division rivals Melfort (5-10-2-2). The squads meet up again tomorrow in Melfort (5-10-0-2).
