The Bombers took their first regulation loss at home this season Friday night, losing 2-1 to red-hot Weyburn.
The Wings had a mediocre start to the season, but came into the Forum this weekend on a hot streak - after getting returnees Jerome Maharaj and Jaxson Ruthven from short forays in other leagues and picking up 20-year-old Michigan Tech commit Ethan DeKay, the Wings came in on a five-game winning streak. Over that time, the Wings scored six or more goals in each game.
Weyburn took advantage of some undisciplined play by the Bombers in the middle of the first frame, with the Wings' Liam Fitzgerald getting in front of the net unchecked and putting the puck past Kenny Marquart.
The Bombers got chances in the first, the best of which was a clean breakaway for Ryder Mucha. Mucha had a chance to score his first goal in his hometown team's sweater and put a great move on Wings goalie Angelo Zol, but Zol kicked out a pad and stopped him cold. Regardless, Flin Flon was skunked through 20 and the Wings led 1-0 at the break.
Flin Flon missed some early powerplay chances and gave up a couple of breakaway chances early, but Marquart stood tall in the opening moments of the second. Joey Lies had a prime shot in the slot during a Bomber powerplay chance, but Zol made the save.
Flin Flon pumped almost a shot per minute at Zol in the second, but he saved them all, putting Flin Flon down one entering the third.
The Bombers started the third in more penalty trouble, taking a penalty late in the second and another in the third. Luke DeKay burned Flin Flon for their misdeeds, taking a shot from the upper faceoff dot that hit a Bomber stick and deflected past Marquart.
The penalty pendulum swung back Flin Flon's way moments later, with Maharaj burying Koen Senft into the boards from behind away from the puck. Maharaj was given a double minor for the hit and Flin Flon got perhaps their best chance yet to get back in the game. Carter Cormier broke duck for the Bombers on the extended powerplay, jumping on a rebound in the slot and sliding it past Zol.
Flin Flon couldn't convert on the second penalty, or on another one taken by the Wings midway through the first. More chances for the maroon and white came later - an in-close shot by Koen Senft was stopped by Zol, with another chance by Senft nailing the crossbar. Marquart was pulled with about two minutes left on the clock, but the momentum was killed with just over a minute left when Carter Anderson took a high-sticking call, negating the advantage.
The Bombers kept digging late, with Cormier getting in close on Zol and almost getting one by the Weyburn netminder. With Marquart back on the bench and the Bombers back to five-on-five but their most potent shooter in the box, the Bombers couldn't convert, eating a loss during the Bombers' parents' weekend.
Zol made 42 saves on 43 shots in the Weyburn net, while Marquart stopped 23 shots on the evening. The Bombers have experienced goal support issues with Marquart this season - in his six starts this season, the Bombers have only scored 11 times, including just one goal in each of his last three starts.
The two teams will battle again Saturday night at the Whitney Forum.
