The Melfort Mustangs open their longest home stand of the season tonight, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The Mustangs play their next 5 games at the Northern Lights Palace and it all starts tonight. Tonight is the 5th of 6 meetings with the Flin Flon Bombers. Following tonight, the team will host Melville, Estevan, Notre Dame and Weyburn all in the next 10 days.
The Mustangs have had a tough start to February and because of it now have some ground to make up in the standings as they race for home ice in the first round of the playoffs. The tightest playoff race currently stands between Yorkton, Nipawin, La Ronge and Melfort for playoff spots 3rd to 6th. Yorkton currently leads the group with 62 points while Nipawin(60) sits in 4th. Both would hold home ice in Round 1. La Ronge(59) and Melfort(57) sit 5th and 6th and if the playoffs started today would travel to Yorkton and Nipawin to start Round 1.
The Flin Flon Bombers come into tonight’s game with a firm hold on 2nd place in the SJHL Standings. The 33-11-5-0 Bombers sit with 71 points. They currently trail Battleford(86) by 16, while sitting ahead of Yorkton(62) by 9 points. Despite something drastic happening the Bombers will finish 2nd and will be guaranteed 2 rounds of home ice advantage in the SJHL playoffs.
Alec Malo has been one of the best players in the SJHL this season. Malo sits with 84 points currently 2nd behind Yorkton’s Chantz Petruic. With 9 games left Malo has a legitimate chance at a 100 point season, needing just 16 more to get there. Cole Rafuse and his 79 points round out a very solid 1-2 punch for the Bombers.
| SJHL Standings | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | |
| 1 | xy – Battlefords North Stars | 52 | 42 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 86 |
| 2 | x – Flin Flon Bombers | 49 | 33 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 71 |
| 3 | Yorkton Terriers | 51 | 30 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 62 |
| 4 | Nipawin Hawks | 51 | 28 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 60 |
| 5 | La Ronge Ice Wolves | 50 | 27 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 59 |
| 6 | Melfort Mustangs | 49 | 24 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 57 |
| 7 | Humboldt Broncos | 51 | 22 | 20 | 7 | 2 | 53 |
| 8 | Estevan Bruins | 49 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 52 |
| 9 | Kindersley Klippers | 50 | 20 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 47 |
| 10 | Weyburn Red Wings | 51 | 19 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 41 |
| 11 | Notre Dame Hounds | 50 | 17 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 40 |
| 12 | Melville Millionaires | 49 | 15 | 28 | 2 | 4 | 36 |
Head to Head 2019-20 Season
Oct 29 2019 – Melfort 4 @ Flin Flon 1
Oct 31 2019 – Flin Flon 3 @ Melfort 4 (OT)
Nov 23 2019 – Melfort 3 @ Flin Flon 1
Jan 11 2020 – Melfort 0 @ Flin Flon 9
Feb 12 2020 Flin Flon @ Melfort
Mar 2 2020 Flin Flon @ Melfort
Tonight’s game will not be broadcasted on the radio. If you can’t make it to the Northern Lights Palace you can catch the broadcast on Hockey TV. Game time tonight is 7:30pm. Skip the ticket office lineup and get your tickets online at tickets.melfortmustangs.com today!
Photo Credit: Broad Leaf Media
