The Flin Flon Bombers rang in the new year with a 5-1 win at the Whitney Forum on New Year's Eve, taking down La Ronge for the second night in a row.
Nick Shumlanski potted two goals in the victory and Eric Sinclair added three assists. Brandon Lesko, Rylee Zimmer and Nate Hooper each scored for the Bombers. Tanner Reynolds scored for La Ronge, the only offense the team could muster.
The mood went from festive to heated in the third period. The two teams combined for 68 minutes in penalties, including a fight for Kristian St. Onge and the Ice Wolves' Lucas Nagel. Regardless of the mood, the Bombers still earned two points - even though the customary post-game moose leg was suspiciously absent from the ice.
Brenden Newton stayed the course for Flin Flon, making 28 saves on 29 shots for the win. The Bombers chased La Ronge's starting goalie for the second night in a row, with Luke Lush yanked for Aaron MacKay. The two combined for 46 saves.
For the Ice Wolves, the loss extends their losing streak to seven games. La Ronge has won six games this season.
The Bombers hit the half-century mark in points with the win, standing pat atop the Sherwood Division with 50. Flin Flon is now nine points ahead of Nipawin and 14 points ahead of Melfort for the division lead. Meanwhile, La Ronge falls deeper into the league's basement with 17 points, 13 points behind second-last Melville.
The Ice Wolves will head back to La Ronge to lick their wounds, while the Bombers will have a few days off before their next game. The Bombers will head to Kindersley for a two-game away date with the Klippers on Jan. 6 and 7.
