By Gary Moskalyk
Oliver Paipoonge, ON – Jack Osmond stopped 16 shots in the first period–45 overall–and the Bombers erupted for four unanswered goals in the second period en route to a 6-2 win over Kam River at Norwest Arena.
After a scoreless first defenceman Dayvan Bull got his first of the playoffs on a point shot with assists from Owen Riffel and Blake Burke on a Bomber power play.
The turning point came at 7:23 of the second when the SIJHL’s leading playoff producer Jett Mintenko was awarded a penalty shot with the game tier on his stick. Osmond thwarted the opportunity with a pad save. Jonah Smith on a partial breakaway, Trever Sanderson on a short breakaway, and Smith again with a bank shot from behind the Kam River net, all scored even-strength goals for a 4-0 Bomber lead heading into the third.
“Obviously a wild game. We knew they were going to push back and they did in the first period,” said Bomber head coach Johnstone. The Walleye outshot Sioux Lookout 16-8 in the first. “Oz played very well to keep us in it. That was kind of how the story went. Ozzy played very well and it gave us time to get our legs. We finally scored is the second period on the power play. Slowly, just kept on working. Ozzy was the backstop to it all.”
The scoring ended with four third period power play goals–two by each team.
Alex Lucas struck at 22 seconds of the third for a 5-0 lead, and Blake Burke got another with a man advantage to make it 6-0 at 9:20. Kam River pulled Ashton Sadauskas for Travis VanderZwaag at that point.
The Bombers took three consecutive minor penalties. Kam River’s potent power play struck for two of their own. Carter Poddubny broke Osmond’s shutout bid at 10:21 from close range for his 5th and Carter Nailen’s one-timer made it 6-2 with assists from Brydon Bell and Ryan Doucette 56 seconds later.
The Bombers head home with 2-0 series lead.
“Feels good. Of course, that’s a good hockey team, you know what I mean? I feel the same way as I have about every game. Try to approach the game with the same attitude, which is one minute, one game, one little bit at a time. Got to go home and focus,” added Johnstone.
Nolan Palmer, captain of the Bombers, was injured in the first portion of the game and did not return.
Kam River outshot the Bombers 47-26 overall and in every period. Osmond was selected first star of the game. Smith was second star based on his two goals. Blake Burke and Alex Lucas added assists and Connor Burke and Riffel had two assists each. Doucette had a pair of assists for Kam River.
Sadauskas and VanderZwaag combined for 20 saves. VanderZwaag played the final 10:40.
Sioux Lookout scored on three of their four power play chances. Kam River was 2-7. The Bombers took seven minor penalties to Kam River’s four. Attendance was 893.
Games three and four will be Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. at the Hanger in Sioux Lookout.