(Mat Barrett/Melfort Mustangs)

By Mat Barrett

One Down One to Go

Mustangs suppress Bombers in big road win

Mar 8, 2023 | 9:39 AM

The Melfort Mustangs have reached the 30-win plateau this season after a 6-3 win over the Flin Flon Bombers, Tuesday night at the Whitney Forum.

The Mustangs needed wins in their final two games to Put pressure on La Ronge for home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, and Tuesday was a big step in that.

Zac Somers opened the scoring for Melfort on the powerplay about halfway through the first period. Brock Mueller tied it up for Flin Flon in the first, but that was the last time the Bombers would get things tied.

Ben Tkachuk scored twice, and Tye Evans added another for the Mustangs in the second to give Melfort the 4-1 advantage all before Reece Richmond scored late in the second to cut the lead to 4-2.

A Joey Lies powerplay goal for Flin Flon got it back to 4-3, but the Bombers couldn’t find the equalizer as Mustangs’ Hayden Tuba made it 5-3 just seconds later. Boston Maxwell fired a shorthanded marker into an empty bomber cage late, sealing the deal for the Mustangs.

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Mustangs assistant coach Dan Meyers said they had to simplify things once again, and it worked out.

“Get the puck deep, take some body, throw some more pucks at the net,” he said. “Get more hungry around the net, and tonight it worked out.”

Melfort could have faltered at 4-3, but seemed to get better as the game progressed, and Meyers said they were able to stick with things, even when the Bombers came hard.

“We got some momentum and just kept going with it,” Meyers said. “I know in the last few games, we just couldn’t find momentum, so it’s just nice for the boys, and a good win for the boys for confidence.”

Melfort jumps ahead of the La Ronge Ice Wolves into fourth place, for the time being, but a Mustangs win on Friday, and a loss of any sort by La Ronge will clinch home ice advantage for the Mustangs in the first round.

Melfort will visit Nipawin on Friday.

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matbarrett@melfortmustangs.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6