The Flin Flon Bombers won three games last week to go on a four-game winning streak – their longest of the season.
The Bombers were not feasting on cellar dwellers, either, but rather picked up their victories by knocking off top teams.
“What a turnaround to our season this month,” said head coach and general manager Mike Reagan, whose Bombers had prior to last night’s game won five games and picked up points in six throughout November. “It just kind of confirmed what we thought all along. We had a good team and we just weren’t getting the breaks.”
The team achieved its goal of getting back to .500. Heading into last night’s game, the Bombers had a 10-10-0-4 record.
After shutting out Sherwood Division rival Nipawin 4-0 on Nov. 17, Flin Flon beat the league-leading Battlefords North Stars in the friendly confines of the Whitney Forum on the weekend. The Bombers dispatched Battlefords 5-4 in overtime on Friday, Nov. 20 and then 5-2 the next night.
Reagan said confidence has played a big role in team’s success as of late.
“Everyone is just a bit looser,” he said. “Believing in the team. Believing that we can beat the best teams in the league.”
Zac Robidoux was between the pipes for all three victories. He stopped 24 shots against Nipawin to earn his first shutout of the season. Against Battlefords, he recorded 44 saves one night and 41 the next.
“His rebound control is unbelievable,” Reagan said of the netminder acquired in the offseason. “He is seeing the puck really well. We are seeing what type of goaltender we thought we were getting.”
Reagan said the Friday overtime win over Battlefords was important, especially with the way the game was going. Flin Flon had led 3-1 at the end of the first period, but the North Stars came back.
As well, the Bombers had received 12 penalties for 32 minutes compared to five infractions for 10 minutes for Battlefords.
Flin Flon was able to score three power-play goals – including the game-winner in overtime by Jason Lavallee.
“It was a beautiful goal. A goal scorer’s goal – just under the bar,” Reagan said. “That’s why we brought him in – to help with our scoring.”
