Don't you dare count the Flin Flon Bombers out yet.
The pieces all came together for the Bombers in game three of their second round playoff series with Nipawin. Flin Flon got a 3-2 home win and cut Nipawin's series lead to 2-1.
It was a physical, gritty game, with an emphasis on board battles, checks and occasional stickwork.
Neither team got on the board in the first period, but the Bombers scored first, getting a goal by Brandson Hein after a wild scrum in the slot. Six minutes later, Ethan Daniels was sprung on a breakaway and did not miss, beating Hawks 'tender Declan Hobbs and giving the Bombers a 2-0 lead.
It didn't take long for Nipawin to claw back, though. Brandan Arnold found the net on a power play shortly after Daniels scored, cutting Flin Flon's lead to one.
Both teams surged out of the gate to start the third. Ultimately, it was Chrystopher Collin who scrapped his way to the side of the net and bounced one past Hobbs to make it a 3-1 game.
Flin Flon had some late penalty trouble, with Nipawin's Josh McDougall scoring on a power play with just over three minutes to go. With a chance to tie the game and force overtime, Nipawin pulled Hobbs and threw everything they had at Newton, but came up short - thanks in part to several blocked shots by Bomber defenders.
Newton got his third playoff win of the season with a 37 save performance. Hobbs made 35 saves.
The Bombers and Hawks will face off again for game four on March 21 at the Whitney Forum.
