The Flin Flon Bombers will have a chance to tie the Melfort Mustangs for first place in the Sherwood Division tonight when the two teams do battle at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort.
The Bombers enter the game just two points behind the Mustangs, but have two games at hand. Both teams have been sharp in their last 10 games with an identical 7-1-1-1 record.
This past weekend, Flin Flon needed extra time in both their games, beating the Weyburn Red Wings 4-3 on Friday in overtime and then on Saturday in a shootout over the La Ronge Ice Wolves by the same score.
After allowing a total of just three goals in his first four games, goaltender Adam Beukeboom gave up three on just 21 shots in 33:58 of action Friday. He gave way to Simon Hofley, who made 18 saves to earn the come-from-behind win.
The Red Wings led 3-2 after 40 minutes of play, but Joel Kocer’s goal with just three seconds left in regulation tied the game for Flin Flon. In overtime, Chris Rauckman’s team leading 20th of the season at 2:51 of the extra stanza was the winner. It was Rauckman’s second goal and third point of the game. Tyson Empey had the other goal for the Bombers.
Shots on net were 40-39 in favour of Flin Flon.
“Wins like Friday night, never giving up and scoring with three seconds left and scoring in OT build character and confidence that you are never out of a game,” said head coach Mike Reagan. “We look back at Yorkton down 3-1 last year in the Royal Bank Cup final with less than three minutes to play and finding a way to win. We want to build that ‘never give up’ attitude and it’s games like this weekend that do that for a team.”
On Saturday, Kocer was the difference in the game as the newcomer scored twice and added an assist, playing a part in all three of Flin Flon’s goals during regulation time.
Tanner Lishchynsky had the other goal for the Bombers, and Austin Evans made a nifty little move during the shoot out to fool goaltender Kris Joyce and win it for the Bombers.
Hofley made 26 saves during the game and then stopped all three shooters he faced in the penalty shot competition. Final shots on net were 45-29 for Flin Flon.
Kocer now has nine points in just six games with the Bombers.
“The last couple games haven’t been pretty, but good teams find ways to win even when you’re not playing your best hockey,” said Reagan. “We haven’t really gone through a slump yet this season and hopefully we won’t, but if this is the worst we play and are still finding ways, then we have to be happy.”
SJHL Standings (excluding yesterday’s games)
Viterra Division GP W L OTL SL PTS GF GA P10
1. Melville 28 13 14 0 1 27 65 71 3-7-0-0
2. Weyburn 28 10 13 4 1 25 72 84 4-3-2-1
3. Estevan 26 9 14 0 3 21 59 97 5-5-0-0
4. Yorkton Terriers 26 9 14 1 2 21 64 79 2-7-0-1
Kramer Division
1. Kindersley 29 20 6 1 2 43 94 62 6-4-0-0
2. Battlefords 26 15 6 5 0 35 79 71 6-2-2-0
3. Notre Dame 26 16 8 1 1 34 68 61 6-4-0-0
4. Humboldt 26 12 13 1 0 25 69 74 3-7-0-0
Sherwood Division
1. Melfort 27 17 5 1 4 39 87 64 7-1-1-1
2. Flin Flon 25 15 3 4 3 37 97 65 7-1-1-1
3. Nipawin 25 14 7 2 2 32 79 69 6-3-1-0
4. La Ronge 26 9 13 2 2 22 62 98 3-5-0-2
