The battle for second in the Sherwood Division and fifth overall is just hours away at the Whitney Forum. Flin Flon and Nipawin will play a home and home this weekend with Nipawin returning the favour tomorrow night at the Cage.
Flin Flon's record against Nipawin is : 1-0-2-2, with 4 of the 5 meetings requireing over- time. Neither team can afford to lose any more ground to Notre Dame, who are red hot reeling off 6 straight wins to move 4 points up on both the Bombers and Hawks for fourth overall and home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Bombers failed to take advantage in one of the two games they had on hand over Nipawin losing to Laronge 2-1 on Wednesday. It doesn't matter who you play at this time of the year, wins are always tough to come by especially desperate teams like the Ice Wolves who are trying to just make the play -offs.
The Bombers and Hounds have 8 games remaining, while the Hawks have 7. If Flin Flon could sweep the home and home this weekend, that would put them in a very good spot to at least clinch 5th.
All 3 teams have simillar schedules down the stretch with The Bombers having 4 at home and 4 on the road. The Hounds have 4 games at home and 3 on the road, while Nipawin has 3 at home and 4 on the road.
Flin Flon has been great at home reeling off 8 straight wins in 2015 and need to come up with a great effort to try and derail a very good Nipawin club tonight . Defenseman Brandon Masson will return to the lineup tonight, with Smith, Bell and Lacoursiere all back tomorrow.
Head Coach Mike Reagan says that goaltender Adam Beukeboom is making good progress, and hope to see him back practising with the club very soon. Simon Hofley will carry the mail again this weekend and has played well over the last 3 games.
This new playoff format is one of the best moves the league has made in decades, and it looks like every game is going to mean something with lots of great battles right down to the last game of the season. This should help attendance in every SJHL centre.
Both games from this crucial home and home with Nipawin will be broadcast on 102.9 CFAR and flinflononline.com starting with the Murray GM Coach's Show both nights at 7:15.
