The Estevan Bruins bounced back after a defeat in Weyburn and got goals from five different players in a 5-3 victory over the Flin Flon Bombers on March 3 at Affinity Place. It was the Bruins third victory over the Bombers this season.

Bo Didur made 31 saves and Estevan got goals from Tanner Manz, Zach Goberis, Hayden Guilderson, Michael McChesney and Jake Fletcher, all while firing 47 shots at Brenden Newton. Estevan held a 5-1 lead that the Bombers trimmed down in the third period, but the Bruins held them off in a penalty-filled final frame.

"We let one guy kind of get under our skin," Bruins assistant coach Aren Miller said, refrerring to Christopher Collin who drew three penalties in the game. "It affects everyone and changes the whole outcome of the game."

"We're going to score goals," Miller added, "no question about it. The better the guys play defensively, the more chances we get. Once we start cheating and getting on the other side of the puck then it disappears. So this week we'll be sitting down and going over a lot of video with these guys."

Despite surrendering two in the third, Estevan had built enough of a cushion in the first and second to earn the win. They got down 1-0 early after Daylan Marchi scored, but got a quick response to go up 2-1 by the period's end. 

Manz and Goberis scored nearly identical goals. Both found themselves on partial breakaways, both avoided a poke check from Newton, and both slipped the puck through his five hole on the backhand.

In the second, as a power play expired, Fletcher teed up a shot that bounced off of Newton, off of Marchi in the crease, and off the body of a hard-charging Guilderson, who earned his 21st of the year. 

McChesney rounded out the second period scoring on a breakaway of his own, putting perfect touch on a backhand move to tuck it just inside the post from across his body as me moved left to right. McChesney's marker was his 29th of the campaign. 

The captain then put the Bruins up 5-1 in the third on the same move as Goberis and Manz. Fletcher had to stickhandle in tight to get into scoring position, but the goal was otherwise virtually a replay of the earlier two.

"Every time someone went in on him his stick came pretty far out and he left that five hole open," said Fletcher of Newton. "He was playing pretty aggressive so I just tried to pull it and slide it through and luckily enough it worked."

With the win, Estevan moves to 69 points on the year, but are locked into third place with no possibility of movement in either directions. Flin Flon continues their battle for position in the survivor series, but is locked into 9th. 

GAME NOTES

Johnny Witzke and Jake Tesarowski both returned to the lineup after sitting out with injuries. Witzke did not play a full game in the month of February, having been out since the loss in Battlefords on February 2. Both players added an assist in their return to action.

Zach Goberis's 32nd goal of the year is the most by a Bruin since Dylan Smith scored 37 in 2011-12. His 75 points are just one behind Darcy DeRoose for most by a Bruin player in the new milenium. 

Michael McChesney got within one goal of the 30 goal barrier. He would be the third Bruin to hit the mark this year if he hits it in his final two games.

Jerzy Martin took part in his first SJHL fight in the first period, earning a decision over 20-year-old Isaac Jackson. Martin had just 18 PIMS all season long prior to that fight. He has 11 points in 40 games on the year. 

Estevan moves to 3-1 on the year against Flin Flon on the year to end the season series. They are 2-0 against the Bombers at Affinity Place.