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.
After another shutout win Friday, the Bombers were on their A-game against the Melfort Mustangs Saturday night. Continuing their shutout streak, the Bombers went on to win 3-0 over the visiting 'Stangs in the Whitney Forum. Leading the best of seven series 1-0 after Friday's game, the Bombers played what has been a typical game for them lately, while the Mustangs tried to redeem themselves. The visitors had no such luck. "It was entertaining for the fans," says Bombers head coach and GM Mike Reagan. "Melfort played well... and I liked the hunger of our guys." For the first time in a while, the Bombers were on their heels Saturday night during the second period, but Reagan says that's to be expected. "I don't think you can dominate 120 minutes with no lulls," he says, noting the past few games the team has played. "You would have to be pretty naive to think that's how it would go," he adds. Reagan says although the team was on their heels, they did a good job in protecting the net and the middle of the ice. Play resumed in the Melfort end as much as possible, says the coach. "There were no great scoring opportunities for them," he says. While the Bombers spent a few minutes skating around, he says the team was able to pick things up and make the adjustments needed to win the game Ð one that was deemed one of the more important of the series. As for the Mustangs, David Tetrault dressed served between the pipes, letting three shots past him in game two. Reagan says he thought the visiting goalie played well with some "great" saves made. "I think we had the opportunity to make it 3-0 (earlier), but (Tetrault) made some saves to give (his) team a chance to win," he says. Reagan says the team was very excited to get things going for games three and four on the road in Melfort. The Bombers haven't played a road game since February 6, against the Battlefords North Stars. The team's shutout streak began shortly after as they played the La Ronge Ice Wolves (9-0), then the Mustangs (6-0) before the North Stars were back for the end of the regular season (3-0). Getting back on the road is something every team has to do, and Reagan says they are looking forward to it. The advantage is in favour of the Mustangs, says Reagan, but the Bombers are going in knowing what their job is. "We have to go in and get their first game to take the pressure off," he says. For the Bombers and Mustangs, the series could end tomorrow night, if both games go in favour of the Bombers. Last night's game Ð which will be covered in Friday's paper Ð was the biggest game of the series, according to Reagan. "We don't want to give (them) the opportunity to win both games," says the bench boss. As for how many games the series will take, Reagan says the Bombers will take it "one game at a time." The following is a Saturday scoring summary for the Bombers: Breaking the goose egg a little later into the game Saturday night, Tommy Castonguay scored his first playoff goal of the season, getting past Tetrault with an unassisted goal in the first period at 7:02. Credit came back to Bomber trainer Jeff (Woody) Woods as Reid MacLeod scored the team's second goal Ð one the powerplay Ð with a stick that was specially shipped to Woody for Saturday's game. MacLeod accepted a pass from Castonguay and John-Sebastian Bergeron at the 12:04 mark of the first period. Though the second period saw no goals, the Bombers came back in the third with a powerplay marker from Devin Mitzner, with help from Matt Lecours and Castonguay, to make it 3-0 for the win.
