FLIN FLON - The Estevan Bruins narrowly won their second date of the weekend with the Flin Flon Bombers Saturday night.
Flin Flon struck first, with Zak Smith tipping in a point shot and beating Estevan's Boston Bilous. None of the goals scored Saturday night were pretty, but ugly goals would do both the Bombers and Bruins just fine.
Estevan tied the game up in the second, with a corner dump-in hitting a wonky part of the Whitney Forum boards and jutting into the slot, where Eric Houk beat Cal Schell five-hole to tie the game up. Flin Flon had an excellent opportunity to snag a lead with a 5-on-3 powerplay, but failed to generate a goal - or indeed, much offence at all.
Mason Kaspick took the lead back for Flin Flon early in the third period, with Bilous mishandling a shot and the puck slowly trickling behind him - Kaspick pounced on the puck to make sure it crossed the line.
Nolan Jones tied the game right back up with another point shot that solved Schell.
The Bombers had several opportunities to regain the third late in the period, with pucks always bouncing near the net and missing Bomber sticks and the Estevan goal. Flin Flon also got a four-minute powerplay when Zak Smith was bloodied with a high-stick, but were again unable to generate much offence.
In the end, it was Estevan's Oliver Pouliot getting a chance at redemption and breaking the game open. One night after accidentally knocking the puck into his own net in overtime against the Bombers, it was Pouliot scoring on the other team's net, beating Schell with a quick wrister with four minutes to go, that ended the night. The Bombers put forward a last stand with Schell on the bench, but despite more close bounces, nothing good came of it for the Bomber faithful.
Schell made 17 saves on the night according the SJHL's gamesheet, while Bilous stopped 32 shots for the win.
The Bruins next game is Nov. 23 against the Yorkton Terriers, starting at 7 p.m. It will also be the annual Teddy Bear Toss Night. Fans are asked to bring a teddy bear to the game, or purchase one before the game starts, and toss the bear on the ice after the Bruins score their first goal of the game. The bears will be collected and donated to the Estevan Salvation Army.
