Wednesday’s Game 3 between the Humboldt Broncos and Flin Flon Bombers turned into a marathon, heading into double overtime, in the end the Broncos provided the final sprint over the finish line, winning 3-2 and cutting the series deficit to 2-1.
Zach Bansley scored the overtime winner in his first game in his first game back in the lineup after missing the last ten games with a lower body injury.
Dazza Mitchell showed why the Broncos made the trade to acquire the veteran netminder, as he made 62 saves over a span of 83:44.
It was a scoreless first period, with both teams unable to capitalize on their power play opportunities.
Defenceman Ryder Knutson returned to the lineup after missing Game 2 due to a one-game suspension and was quick to establish a physical presence, delivering a few thunderous hits.
Humboldt opened the scoring in the second period, as Kye Benoche fired home his third goal of the series to give the Broncos the important icebreaker. The goal was a power play marker, the first for the green and gold in the series.
Marik Mamic added to the Broncos lead, with another power play goal, to give the home team a 2-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Flin Flon wouldn’t go away easily. It took the Bombers 42 shots, but Cole Tanchuk’s point shot found the back the net, another power play goal that cut the Broncos lead to 2-1.
Less than three minutes, Flin Flon tied the game with Landon Alexander scoring.
Nothing was settled in the first overtime, Mitchell was sharp making 16 saves, forcing the game go into a fifth frame, where Bansley ended the game with his first playoff goal.
After going scoreless in their first five power plays in Flin Flon, the Broncos rebounded to go 2 for 4 in Game 3 while the Bombers were 1 for 4.
Matthew Kieper made 32 saves in the loss.
After the game, Associate Coach Carter Hansen was happy to see Bansley score the important overtime winner for the Broncos.
“The guy (Bansley) hasn’t played a whole lot of hockey in last half of the season, so for him to come back and have a bounce back game like that, did a lot more than I honestly expected.”
Hansen added, “For him scoring that goal, I know that’s going to be huge for him going forward, get him a little bit of confidence for a guy that runs off a lot of confidence.”
He noted at times when the Broncos laid off on their forecheck in the third period, it did allow the Bombers to get back into the game.
“When you start playing defence too much, you’re end in your zone a lot and that’s kind of how we gave up those two goals, I think we’re laying back too much.”
It will be a quick turnaround for both the Broncos and Bombers as they will meet in Game 4 tonight at the Elgar Petersen Arena.
You can catch the game on Bolt FM and Discover Humboldt beginning with the pre-game show at 7:15, the opening faceoff is 7:30.
With the Broncos winning Game 3, that ensures the series will shift back to Flin Flon on Saturday for Game 5.