It was a game of missed opportunities as the Winkler Flyers fell 3-1 in OCN on Saturday night. The Flyers failed to capitalize on their eight power-plays and allowed two power-play goals against to split the first two games of the weekend road trip.
After starting the trip with a 4-2 win in Dauphin, the Flyers made the trip up north to OCN for their third game of the season against the Blizzard. The Flyers won the previous two meetings at home, with this game being the first meeting at the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre.
The first period was a good one for Winkler. Just before the midway point of the first, Lawson McDonald made a nice play in the corner and fed the puck to Braden Billaney in front of the net for the game’s first goal. Mitch Dyck also assisted on Billaney’s sixth of the year.
OCN would tie the game before the end of the period on the power-play and the score was tied 1-1 after one. The Blizzard took over the game in the middle frame when Lantz Hiebert scored his second of the game, 4:58 into the period giving OCN their first lead of the game. Another power-play goal for the Blizzard would make the score 3-1 for the home side and the Flyers trailed by two heading into the third.
Winkler fought back hard in the third and outshot the Blizzard 16-4 in the final frame but just could not find the back of the net, losing for just the sixth time this season.
Josh Williams took the loss in goal making 26 saves. The Flyers outshot the Blizzard 35-29 overall. Winkler went 0-for-8 on the power-play and 2-for-4 on the penalty-kill.
The Flyers (13-6-0) will take of the OCN Blizzard (13-3-1) again on Sunday afternoon in their road trip finale. The pregame show on Country 88.9FM and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com will get underway at 1:55pm.
GREAT CANADIAN OIL CHANGE THREE STARS
1ST STAR – F LANTZ HIEBERT (OCN)
2ND STAR – F BRADEN BILLANEY (WINKLER)
3RD STAR – F GEORGE KING (OCN)