When playing the Flin Flon Bombers, stay out of the penalty box. The La Ronge Ice Wolves learned this lesson the hard way on Feb. 1, losing 6-4. Flin Flon feasted with the man advantage, scoring four goals with a La Ronge player sitting in the box.
The tipping point came just as the first period ended. With Ty Budai already in the box, Ben Manson got his stick up on Easton Haygarth, setting up an extended five on three advantage for the Bombers to start the second period.
Just 22 seconds into that periond, James Philpott made it three Ice Wolves in the box, as he was sent off for cross-checking.
Alec Malo would be the beneficiary, scoring his first two goals of the game, flipping a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 advantage for the Bombers.
Tristin Lemyre also got into the action, scoring Flin Flon's only goal of the first period on the powerplay.
The Bombers own the SJHL's best powerplay, scoring on nearly 30 per cent of their opportunities. Humboldt owns the second best powerplay, with a converstion rate of under 22 per cent.
The teams exchanged goals on great individual efforts after the fireworks early in the second period.
Daylon Mannon scored on a spectacular backhand to tie the game at three. Just when it looked like he was contained to the corner, the La Ronge player ripped a backhand up and over Jacob Delorme's shoulder from what seemed to be an impossible angle.
Not to be outdone, Caleb Franklin went on a one-man mission to cause a turnover with his intense forecheck, and he picked up the only assist on Billy Klymchuk's 4-3 goal just two minutes later.
Malo got a chance to make his goalscoring mark on the night. The SJHL leader in assists is usually setting up linemates Cole Rafuse or Donavan Houle-Villenueve for goals. With Houle-Velleneuve not playing, and Rafuse ejected mid-way through the second period for boarding, it would fall to the Laval, Que. born-Malo to step up, and he did, scoring four goals on the night.
Rafuse's boarding ejection gave La Ronge a long powerplay chance of their own and they would capitalize, setting up a 4-4 tie heading into the third period.
The Ice Wolves had gone 4-0-1 in their last five against the Bombers before tonight's game.
In the third period, Malo put an end to any thoughts of La Ronge continuing that trend.
Hayden Clayton did a great job to win back the puck in the offensive zone when it looked like La Ronge was about to go on the break. Instead he started a three on two chance that fell to Tristen Lemyre in the slot. The rookie forward had visions of his second of the game, and go ahead goal, but ripped it wide. The puck bounced off the back boards, straight to Malo, who had a virtually empty net to shoot at.
He made no mistake, tucking the puck past a helpless Xavier Cannon, sending hats pouring onto the ice at the Whitney Forum. Malo would score the insurance marker and final goal of the game on the powerplay after two highsticking calls left La Ronge in penalty trouble again.
The Bombers will take to the road for their next five games, before ending the season with six of seven at home. They'll next be in action in Yorkton on Feb. 4. They'll be back at the Whitney Forum on Feb. 14 and 15 for a series with league leading Battlefords.
