The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
It was a tough weekend at the Whitney Forum for the Bombers as they dropped their first two playoff games to the La Ronge Ice Wolves. The visitors put the first two games of the Bauer Conference Semi-Finals under their belts with a 3-2 win both nights. According to Bombers head coach and GM Mike Reagan, the team was playing too fancy. "We're trying to do too much as a team instead of keeping it simple," said Reagan. "Simple hockey wins simple hockey games, sometimes." The Ice Wolves have been in playoff mode since the Elimination Series when they swept the Humboldt Broncos. But the Bombers haven't made it to that level yet, says the coach. "We (hadn't) played in 12 days," says Reagan. "We knew we were going to come out with a slow start. "I think (the layoff) has really hurt us. I think that the layoff really kills a hockey team, but that's not an excuse." Friday night, the Bombers were down 1-0 after the first period. Playing the second and third, the Bombers were able to tie it up at 1-1, but the Ice Wolves answered back to break the tie before adding one more to make it 3-1. With 30 seconds left, the Bombers scored their second goal of the game Ð making it 3-2 Ð but it wasn't enough. "We needed to find a way to score," said Reagan after Friday's game. "We did that and then we go and give it right back to them, which is frustrating." The Bombers had plenty of chances as they outshot the Ice Wolves 51-27. "That shouldn't happen," said Reagan, making note that with that many shots, the Bombers should have been able to win. "They capitalized on their opportunities that we gave them," he said of La Ronge. "We gave them opportunities that they didn't deserve." The Bombers had two goals that were called off, as the referee didn't think the puck passed the goal line. Reagan says that hurt that team. "It got us fired up a little bit," he said, thinking that they had scored. "It's a very emotional game and that's a tough pill to swallow when you think you've...scored. "And at this time of the year, every goal is big," he said. "That one hurt." Whether it's the playoffs or regular season, a team is going to have ups and downs. Reagan says "it's how you handle the adversity" that counts. "We've got to do a better job at controlling our emotions...and make sure that we stay focused." With Friday's loss out of the way, Reagan said Saturday was going to be important for the club. "You've got to come out with the same effort as we did in the third period and hope that the horseshoe is not so far up (La Ronge goalie Adam) Bartko's butt," he ended with a laugh. "You've just got to keep plugging away Ð just keep plugging away." Heading into Saturday night, Reagan said a second loss would have the Bombers in trouble. See 'Took' on pg. Continued from pg. The Ice Wolves were able to win that second game 3-2, leaving the Bombers in a tight position for the next two games. The team played a better game than the previous night, but again it wasn't enough for the win. "I thought we played a pretty good game, except for the beginning of the first two periods," said Reagan. "We struggled and (it) took some time for us to get going." Sitting down 2-0 in the series obviously isn't the start Reagan had hoped for. He said playing simple hockey would help get the Bombers back on track. "We're going to keep everything very simple and try to become an ugly hockey team," said the coach. "We've got a lot of skill on this team, but we're trying to play too skillfully, I think." Having ended the regular season first in the Bauer Conference, Reagan says the team needs to play like the team they are. "We worked hard to become a first place hockey team. Right now, things aren't going our way," he said. But "you can't sit around and feel sorry for yourselves, otherwise, you're going the be golfing before you know it." Scoring for the Bombers Friday night was Deven Stillar, with both goals. His first, a power play marker in the third period, was assisted by Taylor Thiessen and Michael Young. His second goal Ð with 30 seconds left in the third period Ð gave Young another helper. Saturday night, Patrick Sitco earned the team's first goal with help from Dominic Martel and Corey Tyrell in the first period. The team's second goal came from Mike Rey, in the second period, on a power play with help from Young. The Bombers headed to La Ronge last night for game three of the series. Details were not available as of press time. Flin Flon would have had to win last night and again tonight to even things up and return the best-of-seven series to the Whitney.
