The Flin Flon Bombers return to the ice tonight after a 5 day break to face a very dangerous Weyburn Red Wings team at the Whitney Forum that have scored 35 goals in their last 5 games.
After dropping their first four games of the year, the Wings have reeled off 5 straight wins including a 9 to 1 thumping in Nipawin on Wednesday night.
Weyburn is led offensively by the recent additions of Jerome Maharaj, Ethan Delkay amd Jaxson Ruthven who have 13 goals between them since returning from the BCHL. They have been lethal and are as good as any other forward group in the league.
Another big factor has been the play of 19 year old goaltender Angelo Zol who is 4-2 with a gaa of 2.85 and a save % of .919.
The Bombers did beat the Wings in Weyburn back on October the 4th, but the Wings are a totally different team now than they were then.
Flin Flon is coming off a split with the Melfort Mustangs from last weekend, where they won on Friday 6 to 3 at home before heading to Melfort and losing 4 to 1 on Saturday.
The Bombers continue to play games with a depleted lineup including injuries to Keefe Gruener and Kylynn Olafson and suspensions to Austin Parsons and Reid Arberry.
Massimo Urbani who has been a pleasant surprise in goal and has been sick all week will not be able to go this weekend so Kenny Marquart who is trying to find his game will start tonight.
Marquart is coming off a strong performance from last Saturday where he stopped 32 of 36 in a losing cause against Melfort.
Flin Flon is currently 5-4-1 and trail the division leading Melfort Mustangs by a point, but Melfort has two games in hand. Weyburn is 5-4 and are 4 points behind division leading Yorkton.
It is a little surprising with the high flying Weyburn office that their powerplay has struggled and is ranked 7th at 18.2 %. Their PK has really struggled and is ranked 11th at 76.9 %.
Flin Flon's powerplay has been improving and is 10 for 44 at 20.5 % and ranked 6th. The PK is also 6th overall at 79.5 %.
The Bombers have certainly had the Wings number the last few years and are 13-2 in their last 15 meetings including 7-1 in the games at the Whitney Forum.
It will be an interesting weekend with the Bombers looking like they may actually be the under dog going into the head to head games this weekend.
Puck drop both nights is 7:30 and you can catch Saturday's game on 102.9 CFAR and flinflononline.com beginning with the Great North GM Coach's Show at 7:10.
It is also Parents Weekend , so a big hello to all the parents who will be in attendance this weekend.
