The Nipawin Hawks’ margin for error is gone as they dropped Game 6 of their Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League best of seven semi-final series 5-1 on home ice against the Flin Flon Bombers.
The Hawks dug themselves an early hole as they fell behind 3-0 after the first period and could never recover, giving up two more in the third, including one into an empty net.
Eric Bolden scored the lone goal for the Hawks in the second period.
Doug Johnson, the head coach, pointed to a play in the first period as the turning point, noting the Hawks had a 3-on-1 and did not score, and the Bombers came back down the ice on a 3-on-1 of their own and scored.
“In a matter of five seconds we go from a great opportunity to be 1-1 to down 2-0 and things unraveled after there,” he said.
“The nice thing, we made it 3-1. We put some pressure on, had opportunities to make it 3-2 and then in the third period our penalty kill just had a big time brain fart and got it to 4-1 and couldn’t close the gap from there.”
Special teams played a big role in the game as the Bombers finished the night 3/6 on the power play, while the Hawks finished 0/6.
Johnson noted it was especially disappointing to lose the game given they had a chance to put the series away on home ice.
“We had them by the short and curlies for two games in a row now and we’ve laid eggs. Now we’ve put ourselves in a position of having our season end. That’s what’s disappointing because this is a great group, they’ve worked hard all year... we’re a better team than we’ve played the last two games.”
Scoring has been a challenge for the Hawks in the last few games of the series as just four Hawks have scored a goal in the last four games.
“We just need some guys to get back to playing the way they’re capable of and we’ll get there,” noted Johnson.
With the season quickly slipping away from the Hawks Johnson admitted to having to have some tough conversations with the team in preparation of Game 7.
“We were very blunt and honest with them [April 10], called a few guys out and made them aware of what they’re doing and now it’s up to them.”
The Hawks have been stymied by Bombers goaltender Brenden Newton over the last eight periods as he has allowed just two goals in that span, and Johnson notes the key to getting pucks past him is to play with more speed.
“We’re playing slow right now, we’re not attacking nets so we just have to get back to playing the way we’re capable of.”
The series was tied three games apiece with Game 7 in Flin Flon on April 11.
