ESTEVAN - The Estevan Bruins defeated the Flin Flon Bombers 4-2 Friday night at Affinity Place in Game 1 of the SJHL final.
Bruins' captain Erik Houk opened the scoring with 7:08 to play in the opening frame. Flin Flon disputed the goal, but the ruling on ice remained a goal.
Flin Flon tied the game four minutes into the second period on a goal by their captain Zak Smith. Both teams had chances to take the lead, but it remained 1-1 until the last two minutes of the frame, when defenceman Dayton Deics scored for Estevan following a rush.
Deics' goal came after a great defensive play by Alex Von Sprecken.
Estevan earned some breathing room with less than eight minutes to play in the third period on a power-play goal by Caelan Fitzpatrick. Smith notched his second of the game with 1:51 to play in the third, but Cody Davis finished the scoring 62 seconds later with an empty-net goal.
Boston Bilous stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced for the Bruins, including a spectacular save with 21 seconds to play in the first period and another late in the third. Cal Schell made 27 saves for Flin Flon.
Estevan has now won nine straight games in the postseason.
A total of 1,966 fans attended the game.
The Bruins are seeking their first league championship since 1999, while the Bombers last won the league in 1993.
Continue to watch www.sasktoday.ca and thereminder.ca for coverage throughout the series.
