The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings are coming back home with a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven SJHL semifinal series with Flin Flon Bombers, after winning Game 2 in Flin Flon Saturday night.
"I kind of sound like a broken record here, but our guys are just continuing to get better every day," said head coach Cody Mapes after the 4-1 victory. "They're doing a good job to play within themselves, and everybody's just doing their job."
The Red Wings again took an early lead in the game, following in the same path as Friday night's game. Simon Martin scored an unassisted goal at the 7:04 mark to put Weyburn ahead, and Liam Fitzgerald scored what would stand as the game winner with 6:26 to play in the opening frame.
"Coming into the game, I had lots of nerves, but the energy in the dressing room and just the positivity from the guys really helped me out tonight, and just let me settle in and have fun," commented Martin, who was in his first game back after missing an extended stretch.
Fitzgerald would then add another goal in the second period, scoring on the power play with 7:50 left on the clock. The goal, his fifth of the playoffs, was assisted by Ethan Dekay.
"We just focused on playing fast, simple plays, getting out of our own zone, and then the rest kind of takes care of itself from there," Fitzgerald said of the effort on the night.
In the third period, Josh Sale would score another power play goal for the Red Wings at the 6:37 mark. His third of the playoffs was assisted by Max Chakrabarti.
The Bombers would reply late in the third, when Leighton Carruthers scored on the power play with 3:41 to go in the game. It would be the only blemish on a solid game by Weyburn netminder Angelo Zol, who stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced.
The series now switches back to Crescent Point Place for Games 3 and 4 this coming Tuesday and Wednesday. The sweep in Flin Flon also shifts the home ice advantage, with three of the next five games scheduled for Weyburn.