Flin Flon became the first SJHL team this season to hit 50 points, knocking off rivals La Ronge in a hard-fought 1-0 win on the road.
In their first two games this season, the Bombers and Ice Wolves pumped home a combined 29 goals. Their third meeting of the year would not be the same way. Both teams' goalies and defences ensured it stayed that way, with one exception late in the first.
With about five minutes to go in the opening frame, Anthony Piccininno chased the puck down deep into the Ice Wolves zone and forced a chance on La Ronge goalie Topher Chirico, and while the goalie stopped the first shot, Justin Lies snuck in behind the goalie and knocked home a loose puck to open the scoring. Lies' point streak continued due to the goal - the Bomber captain now has points in his last 11 games, in 14 of his last 15 and 23 of his last 25 games in maroon and white.
The goal would stand as the only one on the night, but there wasn't a lack of chances for either team. The Bombers dramatically outshot the Wolves, putting up more than 20 shots in both the first and second period, but Chirico would be up to the task, stopping each chance that came his way barring Lies' goal. The trouble for La Ronge would be that Harmon Laser-Hume would do the same.
The third period brought a rush of shots and opportunities late, with La Ronge working hard to get anything going on offence. Flin Flon almost extended the lead - Lies almost knocked in another chance late, with his shot hitting the side of the net.
La Ronge went back the other way in the dying seconds, sending Chirico to the bench. Dylan Handel took his best shot at Laser-Hume, but misfired - Rylan Silzer tried to tie it too, but couldn't manage.
Laser-Hume stopped all 31 shots he faced for his second shutout win of the season - Chirico stopped 52 of 53 shots on the night, but was stuck with the loss.
With the win, the Bombers move to a record of 24-1-2-0, good for 50 points on the season, the first team in the SJHL to hit that mark. Second-place Battlefords, who have played two more games than the Bombers, are nine points back with 41 and a 19-7-2-1 record. Lies also leads all SJHLers in goals and points with 23 goals and 47 points in 26 games.
The Bombers also managed to win without the red-hot Carter Anderson in the lineup - the Thompson native was out with illness Wednesday and did not play. Anderson is second in league goal scoring with 20 goals in 18 games, including seven goals in three games last week alone.
A new Bomber debuted during the game - defenceman Isaac Deveau joined the Bombers after a stint in the NAHL with the North Iowa Bulls. A former commit to the BCHL's Merritt Centennials, Deveau played one game in BC this season before heading south, then north. Deveau is a graduate of the Saint-Eustache Vikings U18 AAA program in Quebec, the same program that produced former Bombers Chrystopher Collin, Tristan Lemyre and Vincent Nardone - each of whom signed NCAA Division I offers while playing in Flin Flon.
The Bombers will play a pair of home games against the Weyburn Red Wings this weekend, suiting up Dec. 8 and 9.
