The Winkler Flyers scored four goals in the first period and added three more in the third in a 7-2 win over the Waywayseecappo Wolverines on Tuesday night. It was a balanced attack by the Flyers with all but four skaters recording at least one point in the game.
Playing the Wolverines for the sixth and final time this season, the Flyers were looking to stay hot, having won nine of their last eleven games entering play on Tuesday. Winkler had been playing some of their most consistent hockey of the season, scoring five goals or more in nine of their last twelve games while keeping their goals against at a minimum.
Having already won the season series, with wins in four of their five previous games against the Wolverines, the Flyers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the road on Tuesday. Before the game was even four minutes old, Jason Cohan found Connor Hamonic driving to the net, and the Flyers’ Captain tucked a back handed shot over top of Wayway goaltender Troy Martyniuk to give Winkler a 1-0 lead with his third of the year.
Just over three minutes later, Kurt Sonne took a pass in the neutral zone, skated through the Wayway defense and finished it off with a nifty back handed deke to put the Flyers in front 2-0. Nathan Karlowsky and Jordy Williamson drew the assists on Sonne’s 12th point in his last nine games.
Waywayseecappo got one back on the power-play when Johl Swedlo tipped the puck past Flyers’ netminder Nathan Warren with 9:50 remaining in the first. Winkler would go right back on the attack and restore their two goal lead just over a minute later. Carrying the puck around the Wolverines’ zone, Winkler native Nolan McGuire beat Martyniuk with a wrist shot from the top of the circles. Coltyn Bates assisted on McGuire’s seventh of the season. After going 23 games without scoring a goal, McGuire has now recorded five goals in his last five games.
Winkler struck again late in the first period when Connor Hamonic fed a nice back door pass to Cam Whyte, who scored his team leading 34th of the season to put Winkler ahead 4-1 after one.
The Wolverines scored the only goal on the second period and the Flyers took their 4-2 lead into the third, while outshooting Wayway 30-23 through 40 minutes.
Scoring nine third period goals in their two wins on the weekend, the Flyers looked to put this game to bed in the final frame again. Just past the seven minute mark of the third, Scott Gall scored his 28th of the season to give Winkler a 5-2 lead. Jordy Williamson and Kurt Sonne each picked up their second points of the night with the assists.
With 4:46 left in regulation, Tyler Jubenvill found the back of the net with a wrister from the point and the Flyers were in front by four goals. Tristan Keck and Cam Whyte assisted on Jubenvill’s fourth of the year on the power-play.
Thomas Mansbridge would also score on the power-play before the end of the game and Winkler had a 7-2 lead. The assists went to Jason Cohan and Tyler Jubenvill, which would also be their second points of the game.
Nathan Warren had another strong game in goal for Winkler, increasing his record to 11-4-1. He made 24 saves while winning his eighth game in his last nine starts. Winkler outshot Wayway 41-26 overall. The Flyers went 3-for-6 on the power-play and 3-for-4 on the penalty-kill.
The offense has certainly been clicking for Winkler recently, scoring five goals or more in 10 of their last 13 games. In their last three games, the Flyers scored a combined 22 goals in their wins over Neepawa, Dauphin and Waywayseecappo. The Flyers have already scored 24 more goals than they did all of last season with eight more games left to play.
Winkler (37-12-3) will continue their busy week with a trip to Winnipeg on Thursday, February 18th to face the Blues. This will be the fifth meeting of the year against Winnipeg, with Winkler winning each of the previous four contests. The broadcast on Country 88.9FM and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com will begin at 6:55pm with puck drop at the MTS Iceplex at 7pm.
Great Canadian Oil Change Three Stars
1st Star – F Nolan McGuire (Winkler)
2nd Star – F Scott Gall (Winkler)
3rd Star – D Lawson McDonald (Winkler)
Winkler Canvas Hardest Working Flyer of the Game
F Coltyn Bates