It was quite the night for the Flyers’ offense in a 7-3 win over the Dauphin Kings in the first game of their three game weekend road trip. The victory was a well rounded effort as all but four of Winkler’s 18 skaters recorded at least one point.
Having not played since their September 30th win in Winnipeg, the Orange and Black boarded the bus and made the journey to Credit Union Place in Dauphin for their first meeting of the season against the Kings. The Flyers went 5-1 against Dauphin a season ago and were looking for a good performance against the struggling Kings.
Winkler scored first, 12:08 into the game when Scott Gall took a drop pass from Matt Christian and picked the far corner for his team leading fifth goal of the season. However, the Kings tied the game moments later on the power-play and the two teams skated into the first intermission tied 1-1.
The Flyers went back in front 2-1 before the six minute mark of the second. After a good body check behind the Dauphin net, Jason Cohan flipped the puck in front to Ian Mackey who scored his first of the game. But the Kings would tie the game again just past the halfway point of the frame.
The game shifted Winkler’s way late in the period when the Flyers were awarded a four minute power-play. Through the first four games of the season, the Flyers’ power-play had struggled to produce, but that all changed on Friday night.
Halfway through the first Dauphin penalty, Matt Christian assisted on Tyler Jubenvill’s first of the year to move the Flyers back in front. Thirty nine seconds later Braden Billaney skated down the right wing and ripped home his first to give Winkler a two goal lead. In the final minute of the second, Mackey tipped in a Dionne Demke pass for his second of the night and Winkler took a 5-2 lead into the third.
Dauphin started the final period with a power-play goal to get within two, but the Flyers would add a few more for good measure. Not even a minute after the Kings’ third goal, Coltyn Bates jammed in a loose puck to restore Winkler’s three goal lead. Matt Christian and Jeff Michiels assisted on Bates’ first of the season. It was also Christian’s third helper of the game.
Back on the power-play, the Flyers tacked on another one a few minutes later. This time it was Winkler’s own Mitch Dyck scoring on a one-timer in the left wing slot and Winkler now had a four goal lead. Will Blake and Scott Gall assisted on the goal.
When it was all said and done, the Flyers had won the game 7-3 with 14 of the 18 skaters earning at least one point. Cole Weaver made 22 saves in his second straight win as the Flyers outshot the Kings 34-25. Winkler went 3-for-5 on the power-play and 3-for-5 on the penalty-kill.
The Flyers (4-1) will continue their road trip Saturday night in Swan River when they take on the Swan Valley Stampeders (1-3). Puck drop at the Swan River Centennial Arena is 7:30pm with Matt Friesen’s pregame show on County 88.9FM and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com getting underway at 7:25pm.
NOTE: G Connor Slipp, F Nico Labossiere and F Jacob Lacasse all missed Friday’s game due to injury. All three will be out of the lineup for at least the next few games. G Jakob Severson was also added to the roster and backed up Cole Weaver.
Great Canadian Oil Change Three Stars
1st Star – Matt Christian (Winkler)
2nd Star – Ian Mackey (Winkler)
3rd Star – Tyler Jubenvill (Winkler)