By Craig Beauchemin

Switzer’s OT goal gives Bombers 2-0 series lead over North Stars

Apr 3, 2016 | 10:13 AM

After giving up a goal in the final minute of Game One causing a loss, the North Stars were able to hold on and get to overtime in game two. Unfortunately for them, it took just 50 seconds into the extra frame for the Bombers to win.

Flin Flon was clearly the better team in the opening 20 minutes, outshooting the North Stars 20-10.

The Bombers opened the scoring 4:38 into the game when the North Stars couldn’t clear the puck out of their own zone. After two turnovers, Bombers defenceman Mason Etter threw the puck at the net from the point and Brandon Lesko deflected it through the pads of Tyler Fuhr.

Just over four minutes later the North Stars answered as Rory Davidson gathered the puck along the left wing boards before finding Baxter Kanter alone in the slot. Kanter landed his first career playoff goal with a one-timer around an outstretched Brenden Newton.

The Bombers took away any momentum the North Stars may have had as they scored a pair of specialty team goals in the final few minutes the period.

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While on the power play, Curtis Roach had the puck at the right faceoff circle before throwing a centering pass onto the stick of Alex Smith, who tapped it past Fuhr to give the Bombers a 2-1 lead with 4:07 remaining.

The North Stars were hoping to get some momentum with a late power play, but it was the Bombers who took advantage. Just 10 seconds into the North Stars power play, Smith poked the puck past the North Stars defenceman at the point to give him a 2-on-1 with Tyson Empey.

Smith tried to centre for Empey, but the pass hit Levi Kleiboer. After it snuck through Kleiboer, Empey jammed the puck on goal, and while Fuhr was able to make the original save, he was helpless to stop the rebound as the Bombers captain made it 3-1 with 36 seconds left in the period.

In the second period the North Stars looked like the team they were all season. Just 2:24 into the period, Coby Downs spotted Dustin Gorgi on the blocker side of Newton and fed him the pass which was tapped into the open cage to cut the lead to 3-2.

Just 56 seconds later, the North Stars tied the game on the power play as Braydon Buziak’s quick shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circle snuck underneath the pads of Newton for his first goal of the playoffs to tie the game.

Two quick goals against didn’t deter the Bombers however, as they would find the back of the net on the power play six minutes later. Much like the game winner in Game 1, a mad scramble in front of the North Stars net resulted in Curtis Roach knocking home the puck to restore the Bombers lead.

It took until the final minutes of the period for a team to score again, as the North Stars got a much needed goal to tie the game. Kanter and Davidson found themselves on a 2-on-1. Kanter’s shot from the right wing was stopped but Davidson backhanded the rebound into the open side to tie the game with just 1:28 left in the second.

Despite power play chances for both teams in the third, neither of them were able to find the back of the net as they headed into the first overtime of their respective playoff runs.

Just 50 seconds in, the Bombers sent their faithful fans who made the trip into a frenzy. The Bombers dumped the puck in and Smith was the first man to get there behind the net. He threw a pass to the slot where Brandon Switzer picked it up before pulling it to his backhand and lifting it over the pad of Fuhr to win the game.

The North Stars now find themselves with their backs against the wall as they trail 2-0 in the series heading to the Whitney Forum. Dating back to last season, the North Stars have lost their last four games in Flin Flon.

Games three and four go Tuesday April 5 and Wednesday April 6, with puck drop at 6:30.

cjnbsports@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @craig_beauch