The Winkler Flyers outshot the Portage Terriers 36-25, but fell 5-2 at the PCU Centre on Saturday night. The Flyers had plenty of chances but dug themselves too big of a hole against the defending league champions.
A night after beating the visiting Dauphin Kings 3-1, the Flyers made their first trip of the season to the PCU Centre in Portage for their second game of the year against the Terriers. The two teams first met just over a week ago when the Flyers blasted the visiting Terriers 9-3. That night, the Flyers defense held the Terriers offensive attack in check early in the game, which allowed their offense to take over. Saturday night in Portage was the exact opposite.
After Winkler peppered the Terriers’ net with chances in the first half of the first period, it was the Terriers who scored first on the power-play to take a 1-0 lead into the break. Winkler stumbled in the second period, generating just three shots on goal and giving up two more goals.
The Terriers tacked on a couple more, early in the third period to take a 5-0 with 15:27 left on the clock. Just over a minute later, Matt Christian out lasted goaltender Brock Aiken and scored the Flyers first goal of the game. Will Blake assisted on Christian’s fourth of the season and the Terriers lead was cut to 5-1.
Despite their best efforts, the Flyers would only get one more goal before the end. That one came from Nolan McGuire who scored seventh goal in his last six games to bring the Flyers to within three. Will Blake and Lawson McDonald drew the assists.
Josh Williams made 20 saves in the loss as the Flyers outshot the Terriers 36-25 in the game, 19-5 in the third period alone. Winkler was 0-for-4 on the power-play and 2-for-3 on the penalty-kill.
Winkler (11-5-0) will host the Winnipeg Blues (6-7-2) on Tuesday, November 1st. Puck drop at the Winkler Recreation Complex is 7:30pm with advance tickets available at the Winkler Coop Gas Bar.
GREAT CANADIAN OIL CHANGE THREE STARS
1ST Star – F Calvin Bliid (Portage)
2nd Star – F Will Blake (Winkler)
3rd Star – F Ryan Sololoski (Portage)