MELFORT, SK – Kylynn Olafson chipped the winner between Melfort goaltender James Venne’s legs 15:05 into overtime, and the Flin Flon Bombers earned a Game 5 with a 4-3 extra-frame victory Thursday in Melfort.
It was the Bombers’ first road final win since April of 2016, a span of eight games, and snapped an eight-game overall finals losing streak stretching back to Game 7 of the 2022 SJHL Final.
On the brink of elimination, Flin Flon came out flying, and Anthony Piccininno’s bullet short-side on Venne at the 4:20 mark of the second period gave the Bombers their first three-goal lead of the series.
But the Mustangs would not quit.
An Aidyn Hutchinson finish on a sweet Clay Sleeva feed was sandwiched by two rockets from Ryan Duguay, and the Melfort rally sent the Northern Lights Palace crowd into a frenzy as they tied it up with 1:01 remaining in regulation.
Both Venne and Flin Flon net minder Harmon Laser-Hume were terrific in overtime, as the teams managed a combined 22 often-difficult shots in the 2/3rds of an overtime period.
The Bombers avoid a second consecutive finals sweep as the scene shifts back to Flin Flon, with the Mustangs still holding a 3-1 series lead.
Flin Flon 4 Melfort 3 (OT)
Saturday, April 27th, 2024
- Melfort Mustangs @ Flin Flon Bombers, 7:30 P.M. CDT
