One win down, one win to go. The Flin Flon Bombers won their first playoff game of the year Friday night, pounding Weyburn 7-3.
The Bombers scored early and often, putting up four goals in the first period alone. Former Red Wing Cade Kowalski started the party with a goal barely two minutes into the game, with Mason Martin, Daylan Marchi and Alec Cokley all following suit. Weyburn yanked goalie Cody Levesque following a 13-save period, putting in backup Ben Laidlaw for the second period forward.
Weyburn started to fill the gap in the second period. Jacob Piller got the Wings on the board with a powerplay marker. After Vincent Nardone replied for the Bombers, Piller added two more goals, finishing a hat-trick and bringing Weyburn within two. Former Bomber Dawson McKenzie, traded to Weyburn earlier this season, assisted all three of Piller's goals.
It was as close as Weyburn would get. Nate Hooper added a powerplay goal halfway through the third, with Ryder Richmond adding his first SJHL playoff goal as insurance into the empty net late.
Gabriel Waked picked up his first SJHL playoff win, making 24 saves. Laidlaw stopped 34 shots in 40 minutes on a night where the Bombers racked up a whopping 54 shots.
The win brings the Bombers to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Flin Flon has now beaten the Red Wings in all five of their matchups this season. The Bombers picked up the win without the services of forwards Chrystopher Collin and Ethan Daniels and without defenseman Calvon Boots.
Flin Flon will play host to the Red Wings on Sunday night, with a chance to clinch a berth in the second round against the Battlefords North Stars with a win.
