The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings ran out of time in Saturday’s game against the Flin Flon Bombers. The Bombers would score two goals in the second period to take the lead, and held on to win 6-4 in the second meeting in as many days for the two teams.
Weyburn took an early lead twice in the first period before Flin Flon started to rally back in the latter stages of the frame and in the second. Two of their goals, however, were questioned by some, as one appeared to have been kicked into the net, and the other came after a Flin Flon player had crashed into the crease, and looked to be on top of Red Wings netminder Boston Gelowitz shortly before the puck was fired into the net.
The Wings did put in a strong effort, despite the short bench that saw just 15 skaters, and two goaltenders. Weyburn also came out firing, taking advantage of early power play opportunities.
Weyburn scored the first goal of the game at the 4:19 mark. The power play marker came about off the faceoff in the Flin Flon zone to start the power play. Ethan Whillans won the draw back to defenseman Graham Skinner who, seeing an open lane, fire the puck on the net. Bombers goalie Cal Schell kicked the puck out, right onto the stick of Braden Birnie who fired it in to make it 1-0.
The Bombers would tie things up a few moments later, taking advantage of a turnover to score a shorthanded goal. Jaxon Martens would end up with the puck in the Weyburn zone at the 8:07 mark and wired it past Zane Winter, who started the game.
The tie wouldn’t last long, as Weyburn again found themselves on the power play. This time it would be Ethan Whillans who would score the goal. His third of the season came at the 10:44 mark and was assisted by Skinner. With the two assists in the game, Skinner is now tied for second for the most assists by a defenseman this season.
The Bombers would then score a pair of goals back to back to take the lead. First, Jacob Vockler beat Winter at the 13:26 mark to tie the game 2-2. It was followed up by a goal from Jeremi Tremblay 87 seconds later, this time on the power play, to make it 3-2. The goal by Tremblay gave Flin Flon its first lead of the weekend, having not led at all Friday night in the 5-2 loss to the Red Wings.
Weyburn wasn’t finished scoring in the period either, though.
Austyn Hansen pushed the puck in during a scramble at the end of the crease in front of Schell, and his fifth of the season made it a 3-3 game with 3:25 to play in the opening period.
In the second period, the first of the two controversial goals was scored by Flin Flon to give them the lead. At the 8:04 mark, Matt Raymond would give Flin Flon the lead. The goal appeared to have been kicked in, and the Red Wings tried to plead their case, but the officials were firm in their decision.
The Bombers then extended the lead when Kylynn Olafson scored at the 14:48 mark to make it a 5-3 game.
At the start of the third, Weyburn opted to make a change in goaltenders, with Gelowitz coming in to take the place of Winter. They would also see the bench shortened even further.
Defenseman Nick Dobson went to make a check in his own zone. As he committed to the check, the Bombers player turned to play the puck, and Dobson was assessed a two-minute minor for checking from behind. The penalty does automatically carry a game misconduct, so the night was done for the 20-year-old.
The third period would also see the Bombers extend the lead with another goal that could be considered controversial. Tremblay would score his second of the night, firing the puck into the net before Gelowitz could get into position. Just seconds before the shot from the stick of Tremblay, however, a Bombers player appeared to have been on top of the goaltender, who had been forced back into his net. The goal would stand, despite the pleadings from the Red Wings bench, making it a 6-3 game.
Weyburn wasn’t done, though.
The Wings threw nearly everything they had at the Bombers net, testing Schell right through the rest of the game. They would score one more goal, as Beau Larson notched his fourth of the season while the Weyburn was shorthanded with 7:32 to play.
Schell, though, would stop the rest of the shots he faced, and the Bombers skated to the 6-4 win.
The Red Wings will play one more road game before they close out the 2021 calendar year with a pair of games at home. The Wings visit the Estevan Bruins Wednesday night and then host Melville Friday and Estevan Saturday.