The Flin Flon Bombers were just 5.8 seconds away from stealing home ice advantage and taking a 3 to 2 series lead in the Canalta Cup Final against Estevan on Saturday night.
The Bombers were up late 2 to 1 on power play goals from Zac Smith who scored his 5th in the final and Jaeden Mercier who picked up his 5th of the playoffs back in the first period.
Eric Pearce was the only Bruin to find the back of the net when he beat Cal Schell on a nice wrap around early in the second period.
It looked like the Bombers were going to hang on as they won a big face off and got the puck down the ice in the dieing seconds but could not hit the empty net.
Drew Kuzma got hauled down by Olivier Pouliot and the Bruins were able to come back up the ice and Nolan Jones leaned into a shot just inside the Bomber blue line to beat Cal Schell.
There was so much traffic in front of the Bomber net I don't think Schell saw the shot.
The Bomber bench was furious that there was no call on Pouliot and we would get OT for the first time in the league final.
Estevan was riding the momentum and were the better team in over time and were getting the majority of the good chances.
Saying that, Cal Schell was making lots of brilliant saves and you felt if Flin Flon could get a good chance they may be able to still win the game.
Go figure, a fluky goal would win it off a face off in the Bombers zone when Von Sprecken fired a shot off Pouliot's back that went past Cal Schell and sent sold out Affinity Place into utter jubilation.
Estevan was able to snag victory from defeat and can win their first league championship since 1999 in Flin Flon Tuesday night.
I felt really bad for the guys who worked so hard and really should of won this game. Flin Flon played their hearts out with out 5 regulars in the line up including Gabriel Shipper, Rylan Theissen and Jeremi Trembley who did not dress.
Mason Kaspick and Cole Vardy both got injured early in the game and had to leave the ice and did not return.
Cal Schell was once again his incredible self and took the team on his back making 48 saves.
Specialty teams were a big factor once again with Flin Flon going 2 for 8 with the extra man, and if they could of found the back of the net one more time would have seeled the game and put them selves in a real good position for Tuesday.
Give the Bruins credit, they did what they had to do and found a way to win their biggest game of the season.
Boston Bilous was good when he had to be making 33 saves in a nice rebound win after getting pulled in game number four.
One thing we do know is that Tuesday will be the final game of the year at the Whitney Forum and the Bombers need to win to get it back to Estevan for game 7 on Friday.
I am hearing from lots of former Bomber players who plan to be in Flin Flon Tuesday and I really think we will hit 2000 for the first time in over 20 years.
This has been an incredible run , and I have said it before there is no better place to watch a hockey game than the Whitney Forum.
Get your tickets at the office asap and get ready for an atmosphere that is second to none as the Maroon and White express hit the ice at home for the final time this season.
We are excited to get back on the air with Creighton Furniture Flin Flon Bomber Playoff Hockey with the Great North GM Coach's Show at 7:10 and play by play at 7:30.
