The Flin Flon Bombers look to regain top spot in the Sherwood Division as they hit the road for a pair of games this week.
They travel are in Yorkton tonight and will take on the Melfort Mustangs tomorrow. The Mustangs lead the Bombers by two points heading into this week’s action, with Flin Flon having a game in hand.
“It should be two real good games,” said head coach Mike Reagan. “It’s the first time we get to see the defending champions in Yorkton, and then a showdown for first place against Melfort.”
In fact, the Bombers will play the Mustangs four times over the next two weeks.
“It will be a big four games versus Melfort over a week and a half,” said Reagan. “It could go a long way in determining who finishes first in the division.”
Met once
The Bombers and Mustangs have met once so far this season, and it was only one of two games this year that Flin Flon failed to secure at least one point. Melfort scored three times in the second period in that contest on their way to a 4-3 regulation win.
Melfort and Flin Flon are the league’s highest-scoring teams. The Bombers have outscored their opponents 53-36 in 13 games this season, while the Mustangs are second in goals scored but are a little stingier on defence at 46-31.
Special teams could be the difference. Flin Flon leads the league on the power play at 27.4 per cent. Melfort is third at 20.4 per cent.
On the penalty kill, Melfort is third in the league at 87.9 per cent, while Flin Flon has a bit of work to do in sixth spot at 85 per cent.
The differences aren’t substantial, but the Bombers do have a tendency to take more penalties, so they will have to work at staying out of the penalty box if they want to give themselves a chance to win.
In Yorkton, the Terriers have struggled out of the gate with a 5-6-1-1 record. They have had a tough time putting the puck in the net, as they have been outscored 36-32 by their opponents.
Still, they find themselves in second place in the Viterra Division, five points behind the Melville Millionaires.
This past Friday, Oct. 24, Simon Hofley backstopped the Bombers to a 3-1 victory over the Weyburn Red Wings to improve their record to 7-2-2-2.
Chris Rauckman, Erik Pedersen and Tanner Lischynsky had goals for Flin Flon. Rauckman’s goal was his league-leading 13th of the season.
Rauckman also leads the league in points with 20 in 13 games.
The Bombers fired 44 shots at Red Wings netminder Jack Burgart.
The Bombers have picked up at least a point in 11 of their 13 games so far this season, losing only twice in regulation. Both losses came on the road.
