Home cooking has been the recipe for success in the series between the Humboldt Broncos and Flin Flon Bombers.
Through the first four games, the home squad has won each contest as the Broncos will try and break that trend on Saturday night at the Whitney Forum.
After their second straight overtime win on Wednesday night, Associate Coach Carter Hansen said the pressure falls back to the Bombers.
“We’re the number seven seed, we have nothing to lose, we’re out here playing, and no one is expecting to win.”
Humboldt will likely have to make some adjustments to their blue line for Game 5. Liam Rodman went down late in the second period after receiving a hit to the boards. The 20-year-old had a cut to his face and needed assistance as he left the ice surface. If Rodman is out on Saturday, the Broncos will have to turn to either Teigan Semchysen or Erik Stelbasky to replace Rodman in the lineup. Without a veteran presence for the Broncos third defensive pairing, their top four defencemen of Oakley McIlwain, Tre Fouquette, Orin Olson and Ryder Knutson may see even more minutes in the crucial matchup.
Special teams have been a factor in the series. After the Broncos started scoreless in their first five attempts in the first two games in Flin Flon, it has bounced going 4/11 in their last two games. Humboldt’s 25% success rate on the power play is third overall in the SJHL playoffs. Flin Flon’s power play is at 25% after the four games in the series.
Out of the nine goals that Humboldt has scored in the playoffs, four of them have been courtesy of Kye Benoche. The 19-year-old is tied for the leader in goals for the playoffs.
Flin Flon’s Ryder Ringor is the leader in points through the first week of the playoffs with 8 points (4G-4A).
Both teams have received stellar goaltending in the series. The SJHL’s MVP and Goalie Matthew Kieper opened the series with a shutout for the Bombers, but Dazza Mitchell was a big reason for Humboldt tying the series at 2-2 after he made 109 saves in the Broncos two wins.
With the series shifting back to Manitoba on Saturday, the start time locally for Game 5 will be 6:30. Coverage on Bolt FM and Discover Humboldt is at 6:15.
Regardless of Saturday’s result, the series will return to Humboldt on Monday night for Game 6. Season ticket holders have until noon on Monday to reserve their seat for the game. The start time of the game is 7:30.
If the teams split the next two games, then the deciding Game 7 will be on Wednesday, back in Flin Flon.