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.
Following a 3-1 win over the visiting Yorkton Terriers last Friday, Flin Flon Bombers coach and GM Mike Reagan said consistency was going to be key for the second game of the double-header weekend. But Saturday night's game saw the Bombers lose 4-3 to the Terriers. "I thought we played a good game," said the coach. "I thought overall on the weekend, we played really well." Looking back at Saturday, Reagan said he was disappointed in the third period, as the team was "undisciplined." Reagan was hoping the same solid effort from Friday would carry over to the next night. Though the Bombers were up 2-0 and 3-1 at points in Saturday's game, they were undisciplined, according to the coach. The team received a few questionable penalties. "...there were some calls that I didn't agree with, but it's part of the game," Reagan said. Reagan said the team hasn't had the best of luck with back-to-back games this season. "A lot of times we play one good game and then we haven't showed up (for the next)," he said. Friday night, the Bombers proved their game as they had three solid goals against the Terriers and sustained one bad bounce for a lone goal against. "I thought we did an overall good job at limiting their quality of scoring chances," said Reagan. Opportunities The Terriers had a few opportunities as they fired 21 shots at PJ Musico, but Reagan said the Bombers did "a good job" at limiting those chances. "Compared to where we were two weeks ago when we were giving up 50 shots every game, I think we've come a long ways," he said. Jesse Mychan got the scoring started Friday with help from Corey Tyrell and Eric Millisor early in the first period. Holding onto a 1-0 advantage, with only five shots against, Mychan kept the lead going for the Bombers with his second goal of the night, this time assisted by Dillan (Pickle) McCombie and Dougie McLeod. The Terriers managed nine shots on net in the second period. According to Reagan, if there hadn't of been a bad bounce, the game could have easily been a shutout for Musico. With only seven shots on net in the third period, the Terriers were limited to one goal by the Bombers. But Flin Flon soon added a third for themselves as Millisor earned the marker with an assist going to Matt Maleschuk. While Musico saw 21 shots, the Bombers fired off an additional 10 on Terriers goalie Devin Peters. Heading into the double-header weekend, the Bombers knew they were going to have to be on their game. The Terriers had recently come off two wins against the La Ronge Ice Wolves. The Bombers, however, had split their last two games Ð a 5-1 win and a 6-1 loss against the Melville Millionaires. See 'Started' on pg. Continued from pg. Friday's game started off the month of November for the Bombers. Reagan said the team is going to have to work hard this month as it can either "make us or break us." "We're trying to focus in on each and every game and on consistency," said the coach, noting that consistency has been a "big issue" for the team this year. 'Focus in' Reagan said the players are going to have to "focus in on playing each and every shift and each and every period." Part of focusing each shift and each period is limiting scoring chances by the opposing team. "We're getting there," said Reagan. Looking down the bench, the coach said it wasn't just one line that was putting forth the effort on the ice Friday. He said the team put out a solid effort with four good lines. "I think each line had their moments," he said. "I thought Dougie's line, at times, was really dominate down low and I think (Cameron) Blair's line did a good job again tonight. "(Andrew) Johnson's line had a lot of opportunities, they just didn't bury them. Tyrell's line (had) Mychan getting two big goals and Millisor getting a goal." The team's second line provided the Bombers with their three goals Friday. "That's what we've been looking for. It's what we (were) missing early on in the year," said Reagan. Having a healthy lineup made a real difference for the Bombers Friday. For the first time all season, they were 100 per cent healthy. A big bonus for the team was getting Devin Stillar and Tyrell back in the action. "Whenever you have two guys of their caliber back in your lineup, you're going to be pretty happy," said Reagan. Aside from one injury on the back end, happening Friday, the Bombers went into Saturday's game healthy. Reagan says while there has been a struggle with having a healthy team this season, he'd rather see it now than on the other side of the Christmas break. Last season, the Bombers were healthy until Christmas and returned to the second part of the season with injuries and a less-than-full roster most nights. Heading into Saturday's game, Reagan said the Bombers needed to be focused. "I don't think (we were focused) to the same degree," he said, comparing Friday and Saturday. "If we were focused, we would have been disciplined." Reagan is stressing to his players that they need to understand that November could make or break the team. "Hopefully that sinks into the guys' heads," he said. "They need to show up each and every night." Reagan said the Bombers did not help themselves Saturday. "It's not that we're getting beat by better teams, I think it's that we're shooting ourselves in the foot," he said. Following Saturday's game, the Maroon and White had a few days off to rest before hitting the road yesterday morning for a game against the Humboldt Broncos. Tonight the Bombers are in Melfort to challenge the Mustangs before hosting the Broncos at the Whitney Forum Friday.
