The Flin Flon Bombers will make their way to Access Communications Centre tonight with a two games to none lead on the Battleford Stars in their best of 7 SJHL Semi Final.

 

The Bombers out scored the Stars 10 to 5 in the two games at the Whitney Forum and fired well over 100 shots at the Battleford net minder Logan Cunningham. Cunningham is doing everything he can to keep his team in it and has been their best player in the first  two games.

 

If your Flin Flon you don't want to get to ahead of your self, it was two years ago that the Stars had a two games to none lead only to see the Bombers storm back and win four straight. Playing on home ice is always a factor and the Stars as we know are very good and comfortable at Access.

 

Justin Lies, the Bomber captain has been one of their best players this series, scoring a pair of goals in the opener on Thursday including the game winner. He also opened up the scoring with a quick goal in game two to jump start the very large crowd  with over 13,00 in attendance.

 

Anthony Piccininno his line mate,  leads the Bombers in points in this series with 4 and scored his first of the playoffs on Friday.

 

Secondary scoring has been huge with Riley Niven, Jacob Vockler, Anthony Bax and Keefe Gruener all having a great series so far. I thought one of the things in the Bombers favour would be more spread out  scoring and so far that seems to be true.

 

Flin Flon for the most part has been able to shut down two time SJHL MVP Kian Bell holding him to 3 points and just one goal. The Bombers will have to continue to stay on top of Bell,  because if he cuts loose it could change the whole series.

 

Ben Portner has been great and leads the Stars in this series with three goals in the two games including two on the powerplay. Battleford needs some of their other players to step up and help out offensively as Portner and Bell can't do it all alone.

 

There may have been some concern as the way Flin Flon went into the playoffs, under .500 in their last 10 games but really look like the Bombers of old.

 

Flin Flon has reeled off 6 straight wins and are doing so many things right, including timely goals, good specialty teams, secondary scoring, big saves and terrific  speed that neither of their opponents have been able to counter yet.

 

It will be interesting to see how these teams measure up on the bigger ice in Battleford. They say you are never in trouble til you lose a game at home and I fully expect the defending champs to come out flying tonight.

 

They have their backs against the wall and know how tough it will be to mount a come back if they fall behind 3 games to none. If your the Bombers you want a good start and will have to weather the first ten minutes and keep their crowd out of it.

 

If the Bombers can have a good first period, it will help  alot trying to take a strangle hold on the series. You can follow all the action  tonight for Creighton Furniture Flin Flon Bomber Playoff Hockey live from Access Communications Centre.

 

We hit the air on 102.9 CFAR and flinflononline.com with the Great North GM Coach's Show at 8:10 and drop of the puck at 8:30 Manitoba time.