The Flin Flon Bombers are back on the ice this weekend as they will welcome the Estevan Bruins to town for their only regular season visit.
The Bombers will try to regroup after losing in Nipawin on Tuesday and having their 26 game unbeaten streak in regulation come to an end.
Even though the loss was disappointing, you have to really appreciate the great hockey the Bombers have played over that span and going over 3 months without a regulation loss.
It will be interesting to see how Flin Flon responds tonight as they haven't had a lot of adversity lately.
Flin Flon still find themselves in a good spot at 29-10-3-1, second overall and 6 points behind the front running Melfort Mustangs.
Moe importantly, the Bombers remain 6 points up on the third place Weyburn Red Wings who are proving to everybody that they are a quality hockey team that is going to be a tough out in the post season.
Estevan has certainly gone through a lot of adversity this season and made a coaching change in the new year parting company with Jason Tartanic and giving Assistant Coach Drew Kocur the reigns for the rest of the season.
The Bruins have played better lately and picked up a big win against Weyburn last weekend. They did drop a 4 to 1 decision in Humboldt on Tuesday.
Estevan are not eliminated from playoff contention but certainly have a lot of work to do with a 14-21-5-1 record and sit 10th overall with 34 points. That is 11 points behind Kindersley for the final playoff spot.
The Bruins do have two games in hand on the Klippers.
I expect to see a desperate Bruins team tonight and the Bombers will have their work cut out for them despite what the standings look like.
The season series is 1-1 with both meetings taking place in Estevan with the Bruins winning the first meeting 4 to 2 back on October the 5th, and Flin Flon shut out Estevan in their most recent meeting 4 to 0 on January the 22nd.
There is a lot of history between these two clubs that dates all the way back to the WCHL days of the 60's and 70's and of course a couple of recent playoff meetings.
Who could ever forget the epic league final from 2022 that saw the Bruins win it in 7 games that went back and forth and created not only excitement for both communities but the league as a hole, and is one of the best SJHL Finals we have seen in the last 20 years.
They also met in the first round in 2023 with Flin Flon winning the series at home in game 7. It is always special when these two teams get together and I don't think this weekend will be any different.
Puck drop both nights is 7:30 and we will have the broadcast tomorrow including the Great North GM Coach's Show at 7:10 and play by play at 7:30 for Creighton Furniture.
