Halloween night meant both a treat and a trick for the Flin Flon Bombers - one vital point in the standings, but tied to a loss.
An early offensive explosion and some overtime heroics by the Melfort Mustangs were enough to sink the Bombers Thursday night, with the game ending in a 4-3 Bombers loss in OT.
The switch flipped on for the Mustang offence halfway through the first period, with the home team finding the twine three times in three minutes. Tyson Meyers, Kenzie Arnold and Colby Brett each put pucks past Bomber debutant goalie Kyle Jessiman, giving Melfort a 3-0 lead. Ryder Richmond got the Bombers on the board with a fluttering shot that fooled Mustangs goalie Shawn Parkinson with a minute to go in the first, cutting the lead to two.
The Bombers got to work in the second, with Chase Haygarth and Cole Rafuse each beating Parkinson to tie the game. Rafuse's goal, his 12th of the year, was scored despite the Bombers having a man short - after a small skirmish, Bombers Caleb Franklin, Mason Martin and Matt Raymond were sent to the box.
Flin Flon's defence and Jessiman held down the fort in the last 40 minutes of regulation, sending the game to an extra frame. In overtime, the Mustangs got the last laugh as Ryley Lanthier snuck one past the new goalie.
Jessiman ended his first game as a Bomber with 21 saves, while Parkinson made 39 stops in the win.
The Bombers' loss to the 'Stangs widens the gap between the two teams in the standings, giving Melfort a two-point lead over the Bombers for tops in the Sherwood Division - Melfort now has 29 points in 20 games, while the Bombers have 27 in 19.
Flin Flon will have a few days to regroup after their Halloween fright. The team will be back in action next weekend against the Yorkton Terriers Nov. 8-9.
