Entering play on Friday, February 15 at Affinity Place, the Estevan Bruins had not lost at home in 2019, and had not beaten the Flin Flon Bombers on the season. Something had to give, and thanks to some potent power play work, the Bruins downed the Bombers for the first time all season. 

Bryce Platt scored twice, while Eddie Gallagher and Will Koop added the singles and Grant Boldt made 26 saves in his return to the lineup in a white-knuckle 4-3 win. Jakc Michell, Billy Klymchuk, and Nate Hooper answered for Flin Flon, who also got 26 saves from Jacob Delorme.

"This hockey team has seen so much adversity this year," said Bruins head coach and GM Chris Lewgood of his team, "and tonight there was a bunch of it again. They really want to battle for each other, really want to gut it out, and nobody is looking out for themselves right now, they're playing for each other." 

An early man advantage got the Bruins the game's first goal as Koop was once again in the right place at the right time, perched on top of the crease for a rebound on which he made no mistake. But Michell replied for Flin Flon within a minute, and the score stayed tied through the first.

Three and a half minutes into the second, the Bruins worked a cycle with their fourth line as Isaiah Thomas dropped the puck off to Gallagher who walked off the goal line and went bard-down on the backhand for his sixth. But the Bombers had the answer yet again, as Klymchuk followed the net-drive of forward Matt Floodell and tucked it past Boldt as he lost sight of the puck.

The Bruins power play provided them with another lead. TJ Irey took a knee-on-knee hit but made the play ahead to Jake Heerspink, who left it for Platt. The veteran forward snapped home his 19th of the year after out-waiting the Bombers shot blockers. 

"We kind of had an odd man rush," Platt said of the goal, "and I dropped back beside (Heerspink) and he dropped me the puck. I kind of bobbled it a bit but I picked it up and picked my corner. We lost a good player on that play but it was definitely nice to get one there."

Irey was done for the night after the hit, but the Bruins could not score on the ensuing five-minute major, and by the end of the period the Bombers had tied the score on a power play of their own. WIth Hooper heading to the goal, Cade Kowalski threw the puck into a maze of bodies and it went off Hooper and in.

But the Bruins would have the last laugh. As another power play expired, Platt tried to feed the puck across the crease only to watch it bounce in off a backchecking Bomber. The officials had a long conversation after the goal, but ultimately decided it would stand.

"I honestly didn't hear what they were talking about," Platt said of what turned out to be the game winning goal. "I'll have to ask the boys about that one. I don't know what could've been wrong with that one. I got pretty lucky on that play but all game long they were clogging up the net front play."

"You need bounces like that to beat a team like that," he added. "We'll take it."

This time the Bruins lead held and they took the game 4-3 for their first win against Flin Flon all year. It's a quick turnaround for both teams as the Bombers go to Wilcox to face Notre Dame on Saturday, while the Bruins welcome the Weyburn Red Wings.

GAME NOTES

Platt's goal makes him the third Estevan Bruin to hit 20 goals on the year. He has reached that total in just 43 games. He trails Turner Ripplinger (24) and Michael McChesney (26) for the team lead.

TJ Irey left the game and did not return following the knee-on-knee hit by Caleb Moretz. Caleb Franklin was mistakenly assessed a five-minute major on the play. "He's not going to be back any time soon," Chris Lewgood said of his second-year center. He speculated Irey would be gone two weeks at least.

Grant Boldt made his first start since a win over the Nipawin Hakws on January 26. He has now won his last four straight starts.

The Bruins have not lost a home game in 2019, and have not lost in regulation at Affinity Place since a 5-1 loss to Humboldt on November 22. They are 9-0-1 on home ice in that stretch.