The SJHL Semi Final has not started the way the Flin Flon Bombers wanted it to, and find themselves down two games to none against the Weyburn Red Wings after dropping both games at the Whitney Forum on the weekend.
On Friday, the Wings came out and scored all three of their goals in the opening period courtesy of Cyprus Davis Smith , Blake Betson and Jerome Maharaj.
Flin Flon did play better in the second and third periods but could only muster one goal on Angelo Zol, when Ryder Ringor scored his league leading 7th of the playoffs when he scored on a picture perfect shot early in the second period.
Zol and the Wings shut the door the rest of the way and picked up the 3 to 1 victory. The Bombers did press especially late in the third period with a late powerplay and the goalie pulled to go 6 on 4, but just couldn't find the back of the net.
Final shots were 40 to 19 for Flin Flon but a lot did come from the perimeter. The Bomber powerplay did struggle as well going 0 for 5 while the Wings were 0 for 2.
On Saturday the Bombers wanted to come out with a much better effort but it was the Wings who once again had the great start and got spotted the first two goals.
Simon Martin and Liam Fitzgerald both took advantage of some early opportunities.
The Wings would score two more on the powerplay with Fitzgerald getting his second of the game and Josh Sale picked up his third of the playoffs to go up 4 to 0.
Flin Flon finally beat Zol late in the game when Leighton Carruthers jammed in a lose puck for his fourth of the playoffs on the powerplay. This was Carruthers first game back in the lineup after he got injured in the opening round against Humboldt in game two.
That is all the offense the Bombers could muster and they ended up losing game two 4 to 1. Matthew Kieper who was presented the SJHL Top Goaltender and League MVP trophies before the game gave up 4 goals on 38 shots.
Kieper played great and held the Bombers in this one, and without him the score could of been much worse. Flin Flon was heavily out played for pretty much most of the game and this may have been one of the most lopsided games I have seen against Flin Flon in a very long time.
Angelo Zol didn't have to make a lot of big saves but was good when he had to be stopping 31 of 32. Weyburn got their powerplay going and were 2 for 5 while the Bombers went 1 for 4.
The Wings came in and dominated and full marks for taking both games at the Whitney Forum and will head back to Crescent Point Place up two games to none in the SJHL Semi Final.
Flin Flon may be down but not out and we have seen them rally before although this won't be easy. The Wings are 6 -2 in the playoffs and will have a lot of confidence back in their own barn.
Don't forget to listen to both games from Weyburn Friday and Saturday night on 102.9 CFAR and flinflononline.com beginning with the Great North GM Coach's Show at 7:45 Manitoba time.
