Flin Flon may be the last place team in the Sherwood Division, but the top team in the SJHL has had some difficulties with them, especially at the Whitney Forum.
The North Stars lost both games against the Bombers coming into tonight, losing 8-4 in early October while coming shy of a comeback yesterday, finishing on the wrong end of a 5-4 game in overtime.
The Bombers continued to have the number of the North Stars, who came out on top in a 5-2 game tonight.
Jason Lavalle, who scored last nights overtime winner, kicked the scoring off when Adam Wilson fed him with a cross-ice pass.
The Bombers would add another goal after Brandon Switzer scored his tenth of the season from Brandon Lesko.
In the middle frame the Bombers kept coming, firing 16 shots on Ryan Rewerts. Joel Kocur happened to be in the right place at the right time during a scramble in front of the net, slotting the puck past the netminder after a couple of whacks at it, giving the Bombers a 3-0 lead.
The North Stars wouldn’t be discouraged, who found themselves down for the third game in a row. The Battlefords actually out shot Flin Flon with 17 in the second. The black and white finally solved Robidoux as Reed Delainey registered his second goal in as many nights, scoring his ninth of the season with under a second left to play. Delainey beat the buzzer as the puck came out into the slot where he promptly delivered it home.
3-1 heading to the final stanza.
In the third Baxter Kanter hooked a streaking Alex Smith on a breakaway, resulting in a penalty shot for the forward.
Busting down the ice Smith didn't put a move on Rewerts, instead opting to take a wrist shot. The quick release was enough to lift the puck over the glove of the netminder, hitting the twine to make it 4-1 Bombers.
Still, the best team in the SJHL wouldn’t go quietly. Connor Sych, who leads all SJHL defensemen in points, corralled a pass from Jake McMillen and one-timed it into the back of the net. Igor Leonenko registered the second assist to make it 4-2.
That is as close as they would get. Switzer added an empty net goal to make it 5-2.
Zac Robidoux earned his stripes tonight, stopping 41 of 43 North Stars shots. On the other end Ryan Rewerts made 29 saves.
Special teams played a big role in the off weekend for the black and white, converting just two of eighteen opportunities on the power play. On the other side of the stick, the penalty kill held things together tonight going a perfect nine for nine.
“Our guys controlled the lanes well,” Kevin Hasselberg said. “We didn’t give up any big chances, it was good to see the penalty kill pull through tonight.”
On deck is the Melfort Mustangs at the Civic Centre on Wednesday night. See you there.
News-Optimist THREE STARS
1) Zac Robidoux 41 SVs 2 GA
2) Alex Smith – 1 G 2 A
3) Connor Sych – 1 G
