In a game that had drama and controversy, the Flin Flon Bombers pulled out a 4-3 overtime victory Saturday night to take Game 2 of the survivor series against the Estevan Bruins and earn a split at Affinity Place.
Tyson Empey scored at 8:49 of overtime to win it, taking a centring pass from Dean Allison and burying it, with half the net to shoot at.
It was a more evenly matched game than the opener on Friday, as the teams took turns dominating and holding on for dear life.
However, the contest was marred by controversy in the third period, as Allison scored twice for the Bombers to tie the game 3-3, but goaltender interference went uncalled on both goals.
On the first one, it looked like Bruins goalie Matt Gibney may have had the puck covered - he said later he was just waiting for the whistle to blow - but he was pushed out of the way and then Allison jammed it in. Gibney was not pleased, but that was nothing on what was to come.
Four minutes later, on a scramble at the side of the net, Gibney was knocked over, followed by Allison taking the puck and scoring on a wraparound. This time Gibney went ballistic, throwing the net against the end boards and tossing his stick. Bruins head coach Chris Lewgood also broke a stick on the bench. The game was teetering on the edge of anarchy.
The Bruins eventually settled down, although a bad hit by David Robertson combined with a roughing call on Tanner Froese gave the Bombers a 5-on-3. To Gibney's credit, he regained his composure and made some big stops on that power play, especially on Austin Calladine.
Lynnden Pastachak helped stake the Bruins to an early lead, scoring the game's opening goal just shy of the seven-minute mark as he took a setup from Keegan Allison and pounded it low blocker side on Simon Hofley.
Empey, who has been the Bombers' best player in this series, evened the score 74 seconds later, putting his own rebound past Gibney.
Pastachak put the Bruins back on top midway through the second, tucking his rebound five-hole on Hofley.
Zach Douglas gave the Bruins a two-goal edge six minutes into the third on a nice individual effort, rushing end-to-end before attempting a wraparound and knocking in the rebound.
The series now shifts to Flin Flon for Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Tuesday. The Bombers now have home ice advantage and the Whitney Forum is not an easy place to get a win, although the Bruins did just that twice this season.
They need to do it at least one more time to have a shot.
