The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings came into Game 1 of the SJHL semi-final series with the Flin Flon Bombers Friday night looking to continue their strong postseason play on the road. Three goals in the first period, and 39 saves by Angelo Zol helped lift the Red Wings to a win to take the first game of the best-of-seven series.
"I think, obviously, we started well, and our goalie was very good, our PK was good, our attitude on the bench, our mentality throughout the game never really wavered," said Red Wings head coach Cody Mapes after the game. "I thought we just stuck with it really well."
The Red Wings opened the scoring just 39 seconds into the game, silencing the crowd at the Whitney Forum. Cyprus Smith-Davis scored his first of the playoffs, with Liam Fitzgerald assisting on the goal.
"We kind of broke up their breakout in the neutral zone, and chipped a few pucks into the zone," Smith-Davis said of the goal. "Fitzy (Fitzgerald) skated onto it, made a nice pass, and I just had to bury it."
The Red Wings then expanded the lead to 2-0 at the 9:53 mark when captain Blake Betson notched his fourth of the postseason, on an assist by Jaxson Ruthven.
"Going into the game, everyone knew the boards were live, and that's a good option there," Betson said. "And Ruth (Ruthven), he sees me going to the net, and just shoots it off the board, and (I) put it in the net."
The Red Wings then made it a 3-0 game with 57 seconds left in the opening frame when Jerome Maharaj scored his second of the playoffs. Chad Lebeau had the lone assist on the goal.
The Bombers would try to get back into the game in the second period, putting 14 shots on goal. Only one, though, would get past Zol when Ryder Ringor scored 2:39 into the period. It would be the only blemish on the night for Zol, as he proceeded to stop the rest of the shots he faced on the night.
With the 1-0 lead in the series, the Red Wings will now prepare for Game 2 at the Whitney Forum Saturday night.
"Honestly, if we stick to our game plan and play like we know we can, I think we can do it again," Betson said of the upcoming game.
You can catch all the action in Saturday's game on Great Plains Ford Red Wing Radio, Country 106.7. Dylan Fiessel and John Prette will have the call starting with the pregame show at 6:15 p.m. The puck will drop at 6:30 p.m.