Simon Hofley stopped all 36 shots faced to pick up his first shutout of the year as the Flin Flon Bombers defeated the Battlefords North Stars 2-0 Tuesday night at the Civic Centre.
It was Hofley's eighth win of the season. Former North Star Austin Evans assisted on both of Flin Flon's goals.
The game saw back and forth action early in the first period. Bombers forward Dalton Menke centred the puck to Evans, but Battlefords defenceman Kyle Schmidt tied him up in front of the net. The play continued the other way. North Stars forward Jake McMillen was into the Bombers' zone on a breakaway, but was turned aside by Hofley.
Flin Flon opened the scoring seven minutes into the first. On the initial rush, Evans hit the cross bar. The puck bounced out to Cole Nichols at the left point. His slap shot beat North Stars goaltender Michael Gudmandson over his right shoulder. Gudmandson thought he was interfered with on the goal, but there was no call.
The North Stars goaltender was still frustrated a minute later and took a roughing penalty. During the power play, Flin Flon capitalized midway through the man advantage. Simon Desrosiers' shot from the left point appeared to hit something in front and jumped over Gudmandson's trapper with 10:20 to play in the first.
Battlefords had their own power play shortly after, but were unable to find the back of the net. North Stars defenceman Jake Erickson's shot was stopped. Cameron Blair found the rebound, but the Flin Flon penalty killers collapsed around him to deflect the puck out of play.
Erickson made a nice defensive play later in the first to keep the Flin Flon lead at two. He tied up Erik Pederson in front of Gudmandson to stop a rebound attempt.
Nick Fountain was doing all he could to get the North Stars on the scoreboard early in the second. He generated a chance on the rush when he was stopped by Hofley. Tanner Quinn got a stick on the rebound, but his shot was directed right at Hofley's chest.
Shortly after, Fountain threw a pass in front of the net for Regan Yew, but Hofley was there to make the save.
The North Stars almost had a shorthanded breakaway while Kendall Fransoo was in the box for tripping midway through the second. As the puck slid into the Bombers' zone, Blake Young was all alone but he over-skated the puck.
Gudmandson kept the North Stars in the game during a short period of four-on-four action in the second. Tyson Empey and Dean Allison were on the attack for Flin Flon. They passed the puck between themselves before Allison tried to score through Gudmandson's five hole, but the North Stars goaltender made the stop.
Fountain continued his aggressive play during the second period. He deflected a point shot from Erickson just wide of the Bombers' net.
Early in the third, a mental mistake by Desrosiers almost cost his team a goal. While behind his net, he threw a pass to the outside without looking. Battlefords forward Luke McColgan intercepted the puck and threw a quick shot on net, but was stopped by Hofley.
McMillen had a chance early in the third as he kicked the puck to his stick in the slot. Evans got his stick on it just as McMillen was releasing his shot to deflect the puck out of play.
Hofley carried the Bombers the rest of the way in the third period. He stopped all 13 shots faced in the final period to seal the game. As Hofley continued to stymie the North Stars shooters, they began to show their frustrations by slamming their sticks on the ice or into the boards.
After the final whistle, the Bombers waited in a group by the red line as the North Stars left the ice. Flin Flon chirped the players, including Blair, a former Flin Flon Bomber, who was leaving the box after taking a late penalty. The referees eventually cleared Flin Flon off the ice.
Gudmandson made 27 saves in his fourth loss of the season.
It was the first time the North Stars lost in regulation since Dec. 17 in Kindersley. Battlefords were shutout for the third time this season.
The North Stars (30-17-0-3) still sit in second place in the Kramer Division and fifth overall in the SJHL. They do not play again until Feb. 19 when they welcome Notre Dame into the Civic Centre. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
