Thanks to a dominating third period, the Winkler Flyers beat the visiting Dauphin Kings 6-4 in come from behind fashion on Friday night. Trailing by two goals after two periods, the Orange and Black scored four times in the third to remain unbeaten at home.
Playing the middle game of a three game home stand, the Flyers welcomed the Dauphin Kings who had yet to lose a game this season.
After the Kings took an early 1-0 lead just 3:32 into the game, it was a former King who drew the Flyers even. Just over five minutes into the contest, Brett Klassen and Patrice Wren assisted on Cam Whyte’s second goal of the season tying the game at one. One minute and eight seconds later, Evan Last gave the Flyers a 2-1 lead with Bryce Enns drawing the lone assist.
The Flyers were poised to take their one goal lead into first intermission but the Kings had a different plan. Dauphin struck for two quick goals in the final minute and eleven seconds and took a 3-2 lead into the break. The Flyers outshot their opponents 15-10 through the first 20 minutes.
Dauphin added to their lead in the second when Drake Bodie pushed the Kings ahead 4-2, 5:26 into the period. Near the midway point of the frame, Flyers forward Patrice Wren was assessed a five minute interference major when he got tied up with Bodie during a faceoff resulting in the Kings forward leaving the game with a leg injury. Wren was also given a game misconduct.
With the game getting heated and physical, Dauphin took their 4-2 lead into the third period. That is when Winkler took over the game.
Winkler hit the ice in the third period with a renewed passion. The Flyers carried the play in the Kings zone for the vast majority of the period and started to chip away at Dauphin’s lead with just under twelve minutes to play in regulation.
With 11:49 to play, Zach Heisinger redirected the Jordan Wall point shot past the Dauphin goaltender, cutting the Kings lead to 4-3. Connor Hamonic also assisted on Heisinger’s first of the season. With 6:33 remaining, Heisinger then assisted on Tanner Posch’s first of the year and the game was tied 4-4.
The Flyers relentless pressure earned them another goal just 1:08 later and it was Evan Last who snapped home his second of the game to give the Flyers a 5-4 lead. The Kings gave the Flyers a bit of a scare in the final minute of regulation when they appeared to score the tying goal only to see it waved off due to the net coming off its pegs.
With two seconds left, Tristan Keck scored his fourth of the season into the empty Dauphin net and the Flyers would skate away with the 6-4, come from behind win.
Adam Vander Linden (3-0) made 24 saves in the victory. The Flyers outshot the Kings 47-28 in the hockey game, 23-11 in the third period alone. Winkler went 0-for-4 on the power-play and 5-for-5 on the penalty-kill.
The Flyers (3-1) will host the Waywayseecappo Wolverines (1-2) on Saturday night in their last home game until October 10th. Puck drop at the Winkler Recreation Complex is 7:30pm.