Bad bounces and blocked shots botched the Bombers' try for a sixth-straight win Friday night, with Yorkton claiming a 3-1 win.
Flin Flon would generate plenty of chances, but the visitors drew first blood, with Brett Butz getting wide open in the high slot and beating Harmon Laser-Hume clean with a wrister. The Bombers would have plenty of opportunities, putting up 15 shots in the first to Yorkton's seven, but the Terriers escaped the frame with a 1-0 lead.
That lead wouldn't last. Midway through the second, Flin Flon would break into the zone on a three-on-two rush. Alexi Sylvestre dangled out Yorkton goalie Caleb Allan, but couldn't convert - that's where Jaxon Martens came in, putting the loose puck into the goal, tying the game.
Both teams had great chances go by the wayside. A three-on-two for Yorkton would end with a player beating Laser-Hume, but not the crossbar - the Bombers, on the other hand, got three powerplays in the period and flopped on all three. Both teams were tied 1-1 entering the third.
The Bombers buzzed the Yorkton net throughout the third, generating chance after chance, but Allan and the Terriers' defence stood tall. While Yorkton's offence generated few chances, they converted when it mattered most - with two minutes to go, a high, looping pass over the neutral zone by Terrier Dylan Ruptash landed in front of Greg Nelson, who beat out two Bomber backcheckers, went on a breakaway and put it through Laser-Hume's five-hole, putting the Terriers ahead late.
Laser-Hume would be pulled soon after, but the Bombers immediately took a penalty, nullifying the man advantage and kneecapping their comeback hopes. With a man down, Clay Sleeva put the final nail in the Bombers' coffin, scoring on Laser-Hume - who stayed in the Bomber net late - after a Bomber turnover down low with 15 seconds to go.
The shots on goal heavily went Flin Flon's way, outshooting the Terriers 49-20, but the score didn't follow the same trend. Laser-Hume had a 17 save showing for Flin Flon, taking the L, while Allan stopped 48 shots on the night.
The loss ends Flin Flon's five-game winning streak and keeps the Bombers tied for second overall in the league, tied with Humboldt with a game in hand with 28 points. The Bombers are still atop the Sherwood division standings, but are being caught up on by La Ronge, who took down first-place Battlefords in overtime Friday and move to just one point back of the Bombers for the division lead.
Flin Flon will get a boost next week, as Cole Duperreault's two-game suspension is now over. He and the Bombers will be back in action in Nipawin for a road game Nov. 15, then will face the juggernaut Battlefords North Stars on the road Nov. 18-19.
