The Nipawin Hawks edged one game closer to a spot in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League semifinals with a 4-2 victory on home ice over the Humboldt Broncos.
The Hawks got a huge offensive boost from their top line at the March 21 game as the trio of Josh Bly, Eric Bolden and Brandan Arnold combined for three goals, and seven assists.
“They had great chemistry but the big thing was their speed and their skill level it was fun to watch,” said Doug Johnson, the Hawks’ head coach.
Johnson played a hunch heading into the game noting it was the first time since January the trio played together.
“I thought the time was right to make a change. I just thought we were getting a little stale offensively and put them together and they seemed like they were playing together for years.”
The change paid dividends for the Hawks immediately as Bly set up Arnold for the game’s first goal, just nine seconds in.
Getting that early goal was huge, said Johnson, adding he thought it was a real tone setter for the rest of the game.
“It’s not often you give up a goal real early that you come back and you win that game so to accomplish that, that was huge for us.”
The Broncos did manage to tie the game later in the first but Bolden scored his first of the series just short of the midway mark to give the Hawks a lead they would not relinquish.
Despite giving up four power plays in the second period the Hawks held their ground, and got goals from Tanner Thompson and Bolden to extend their lead to 4-1.
“The guys did a great job on the PK and we accomplished what we wanted to accomplish in that regard as far as blocking shots, keeping them to the outside and not giving them a whole lot of momentum,” said Johnson.
The Broncos did manage a goal early in the third but the Hawks locked the game down from then on.
The win put the Hawks ahead 3-0 in the series with the series shifting back to Humboldt for Game 4 on March 23.
