The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins (5-7) were unable to complete a weekend sweep on Sunday night, dropping a 6-2 decision to the league-leading Flin Flon Bombers (8-4-0-2) at Affinity Place.
Both teams were coming off victories on Saturday night before their first meeting of the season, featuring two of the top-scoring squads in the SJHL early on.
The Bombers started backup netminder Jacob Delorme as starter Pierce Diamond was suspended for his part in a line brawl the previous night in Weyburn. Delorme was strong early for Flin Flon, as the Bruins outshot the Bombers 8-1 in the first ten minutes but could not score.
Flin Flon would grab the first lead as Billy Klymchuk beat Bruins goaltender Jake Anthony to make it 1-0 at the 10:15 mark.
Estevan would even the score just minutes later, as Tristyn Deroose beautifully deflected a shot from Austin King-Cunningham into the back of the net for his 2nd goal in as many games to make it 1-1 at the 14:28 mark. Jake Heerspink also assisted on the play.
It remained tied until the 13:00 mark of the 2nd period when Flin Flon retook the lead while on a 5-on-3 powerplay. Daylan Marchi, who netted a hat trick the night before in Weyburn, scored to make it 2-1. The Bruins would push to tie the game before the end of the period, but instead the Bombers would add to their lead while shorthanded.
Vincent Nardone forced a turnover and broke in all alone on Anthony, who made a great pad save. However, SJHL-leading goal scorer Brandson Hein followed up the play and banged home the rebound just as the penalty expired to give Flin Flon a 3-1 lead at the 18:02 mark. Just 23 seconds later, the Bombers extended their lead to 4-1 as Chrystopher Collin fired a shot past Anthony to give Flin Flon a three-goal lead going into the final period.
The Bombers forced an even tougher uphill climb as their captain Nate Hooper scored 52 seconds into the 3rd period to make it 5-1. Bruins rookie forward Eddie Gallagher picked the corner at the 14:38 mark for his second goal of the weekend to cut the deficit to 5-2. Aigne McGeady-Bruce and Deroose (his 6th point of the weekend) assisted on the play. But that’s as close as the Bruins would get, with Flin Flon’s Dawson McKenzie adding a late goal into the empty net to round out the scoring at 6-2.
Anthony stopped (21/26) Bombers shots, with Grant Boldt (3/3) relieving Anthony in net after Hooper’s goal early in the 3rd period. Delorme was stellar for Flin Flon in net, making (36/38) saves in the victory.
The Bruins powerplay was shut down on Sunday (0/6), while the Bombers finished the night (1/8).
A nice Sunday evening crowd saw 929 fans in attendance. The 50/50 jackpot reached $3,620 by the end of the night.
The Bruins have two games remaining on their six-game homestand. After playing La Ronge and Flin Flon this weekend, the black-and-gold will welcome the other two teams from the Sherwood division as the Melfort Mustangs (7-3-1) visit on Friday night and the Nipawin Hawks (7-4) arrive on Saturday night. Both games are at 7:30pm.
Nastiness Arrived Late In The 3rd Period, As Estevan’s Bryce Platt (background) Fought With Jaxon White, While Turner Ripplinger Tussled With Calvon Boots.
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