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.
Kelly Carrington Staff Writer The Flin Flon Bombers kept their winning streak on home ice alive Tuesday night as they defeated the Melfort Mustangs 4-3 in overtime. Since Jan. 15, the Bombers have earned six straight wins on home ice. Tuesday's win was exceptionally nice for the team as it was their last game of the regular season. Flin Flon's Brett Penner made it a 1-0 goal at 16:12 of the first period with help from Landon Hiebert. The Mustangs tied the game early in the second frame as Anthony Pickering put the puck past Brandon Wildung at 2:48. The Mustangs took the lead from as they scored a second goal at 13:03 to make it a 2-1 hockey game. But Flin Flon's Jason Wark wasn't having that. He opened fire just 54 seconds later and tied the game with help from Brett Boehm and Dallen Hall. With the game tied once again, it came down to Boehm in the third period. He lit the lantern at 6:14 to take the lead for the Maroon and White, with help from Wark and Tyson Empey. The lead didn't last too long, as the Mustangs were back on target at 11:59 to tie things up 3-3. The remainder of the third period was scoreless as the teams prepared for overtime. Brock Hounsell potted the winner at 3:10 with assists going to Wark and Boehm. Heading into Tuesday's game, the Bombers had only dropped one overtime game this season. In the eight games that had gone past regulation time, the Bombers had picked up seven wins. Three overtime wins and four shootout wins had left head coach and GM Mike Reagan impressed. Credit Giving credit to his goaltenders, Wildung and Devin Buffalo, Reagan says the team is always confident in OT. 'I think it's just a lot of confidence in the group going into overtime. We know that we've got a very good shot at winning,' he said. The coach says playing with confidence is key in the final five minutes of four-on-four hockey. 'I think after the first couple of times we built that confidence,' Reagan said, 'and then going into overtime we always talk about it, say 'Hey fellas, we're undefeated' and they just believe that they are going to win in overtime.' He says there must be some luck factoring in to his team's impressive overtime record. 'I don't know if it is luck or if it's that we're just really good in overtime,' he laughed. 'I'm not sure.' Regardless of the reason, overtime has been in the Bombers' favour this season. The team ended the regular season, Tuesday with 34 wins in 54 games. Sixty-nine points left them in third place in the Bauer Conference, as they trailed the second-place Nipawin Hawks by three. The team's overall record sat 34-19-1-0.
