The Bombers clawed back from an early deficit in Yorkton, winning 4-1 over the Terriers and clinching home ice advantage for at least one playoff round.
Flin Flon picked up two points, enough to pull them too far ahead for fifth-place Melville and sixth-place Humboldt to catch. The Bombers can now finish now lower than fourth in the standings, clinching home ice for the opening round.
Yorkton, who entered Friday in sole possession of third place in the league, opened the scoring late in the first. The Bombers got into penalty trouble in the opening frame, giving Carter Briltz a prime chance to beat Matt Kieper with a man advantage. jumping on a rebound and potting it. The Terriers led 1-0 going into the second.
Flin Flon's penalty troubles stayed going in the second period, but the team's luck turned midway through the frame, tying the game up shorthanded. Anthony Piccininno broke into the zone on a rush with the Bombers a man short, feeding Ryder Ringor, who went high on goalie Callum Creig and tied it up with an accurate wrister.
Moments later, the Bombers would take the lead - a quick point shot by Pierce Yakimchuk was tipped by Koen Senft, who got just enough of it to knock it past Creig. The Bombers, having turned the tables, led going into the third - and that lead would not be taken away.
Flin Flon killed off an early penalty and made it 3-1, with Senft feathering a pass from the sideboards for Joey Lies in the slot - the hometown boy got lumber on it and knocked it past Creig. The Bombers got a big chance on a five-on-three moments later that wouldn't be converted on, but the visitors still got the last laugh in the end - Piccininno, who had chances a-plenty through the game but no goals to show for it, found the empty net with 12 seconds to go, after he and Ringor fed it back and forth as if to convince the other one to score the goal.
Kieper had another great night in the Bomber goal, making 22 saves in the victory and picking up win number 20 for him this season. Despite arriving weeks after the season started, the Winnipeg native is now third in the SJHL for goalie wins, having still not lost in regulation during his near four-month run in maroon and white. Creig stopped 24 shots in the loss.
The win gives the Bombers 72 points this season, seven back of first-place Melfort and nine ahead of the third-place Terriers. With eight regular-season games to go, the Bombers have clinched at least fourth in the league standings and may soon do better than that. The Bombers can clinch second place with a magic number of five - if the number of points the Bombers get or either the Terriers or Red Wings lose equals five, the Bombers will be confirmed to stay in front.
The Bombers' weekend road swing will continue with a Saturday night game in Melville, followed by a marquee home-and-home series with Melfort next week - a matchup in Melfort Feb. 28, then one in Flin Flon March 1.
