A raucous home rink and a second period lead weren't enough for the Bombers Saturday night, as Melfort handed them a 2-1 OT loss.
The Mustangs tied it up in the third period to force overtime, then ended the night with a sour taste after 15 seconds of 3-on-3.
Flin Flon's home opener began with a pre-game tailgate event at the Whitney Forum, with live music, food and a beer garden, leading into the team's annual home opener ceremony shortly before the game. Players lined up around the faceoff circle after being introduced, one by one, finishing with the team's captains for the 2023-24 season.
While the Bombers played their first game Friday night with their captains wearing their letters on the road, they were formally introduced to the crowd before the game - assistant captains Matt Egan, Cole Tanchuk and Jacob Vockler and, wearing the captain's C, hometown boy Justin Lies.
Once the game got going, the Bombers and Mustangs were evenly matched through 20 minutes, with both teams having their own chances but none seeing any success. The Bombers were generating chances, but Mustangs coach Trevor Blevins' always-stingy defence kept them away from goalie James Venne. Both teams were tied at zeroes heading into the second.
The Bombers had some early penalty issues in the second, but killed them off, even though the Mustangs outchanced them early in the frame. Finally, midway through the period, a breakthrough for the home team - Trevor Stenglein was sprung on a breakaway, where fired a shot right past Venne for his third goal in just two games and his first in front of the Bomber faithful. Stenglein's goal would be the only marker entering the third.
Melfort tied things up in the first minute of the third period, with Zac Somers finding Ryan Duguay through the slot and Duguay beating Harmon Laser-Hume to the far side, making it 1-1.
The Bombers would have their own chance to work their way ahead. A couple of golden opportunities would be stopped and some potential pitfalls were averted. Bailey Ewonus had a chance to jump in on a breakaway, but he couldn't get a shot away against Venne.
Things got chippy midway through the period, with Aiden Chow laying out Melfort's Chase Friedt-Mohr into the boards, starting a minor brawl and leading to punches thrown, including a sucker punch by Duguay to the back of Ethan Andrews' head. When the dust settled, Chow was assessed a two-and-10 and tossed from the game with a check from behind, Duguay got a 10-minute misconduct and a roughing penalty and Dawson Karol got a two-and-10 for roughing, putting the Bombers down a man.
Soon after, Vockler took a tripping penalty, giving the Mustangs a five-on-three late in a tied game. However, the Bombers killed off the threat and came back, building up their own momentum late. The Bombers even got a powerplay but could not convert - the team has had 12 powerplay chances through their first two games, but has shanked all of them so far.
Perhaps the best chance came with just 45 seconds left, when Alexi Sylvestre picked off a puck late, came in on Venne and was robbed by the Melfort goalie, keeping things even.
Sixty minutes would not be enough. Overtime would be required.
The Bombers headed into three-on-three with Stenglein, Ewonus and Cole Tanchuk. The trio got one chance moments in, with Venne making the save and springing Melfort's Aidyn Hutchinson and Somers in on a two-on-one. Just 15 seconds in, Somers fed Hutchinson across the slot and Hutchinson, back in the lineup after missing the entire preseason, made no mistake, beating Laser-Hume and spoiling the Bombers' party.
Laser-Hume made 37 saves on the night despite the loss, while Venne stopped 35 of 36 shots.
The Bombers leave the opening weekend of the season with three of a possible four points. That enters the team into a three-way tie for second overall in the league with Weyburn and Yorkton, but the Mustangs, who won both of their opening games, currently sit tops in the SJHL.
The Bombers are back in action next week with more rivalry action - a home-and-home series with the La Ronge Ice Wolves, starting with a home game Sept. 29 and the return date in La Ronge Sept. 30.
