The Winkler Flyers kept the offense rolling on Saturday night with a 7-2 win over the visiting Dauphin Kings. Nolan McGuire picked up three goals and an assist to help the Flyers win for the 10th time in their last 12 games.
Less than 24 hours after defeating the Natives in Neepawa to earn their 35th win of the season, the Flyers welcomed the Kings for their fifth meeting of the year. Winkler had taken three of the first four games against Dauphin, including an 8-1 win over the Kings in their last meeting on January 15th.
Just over eight and a half minutes into the game, defenseman Mitch Dyck jumped into the rush, carried the puck down the left wing side of the ice and back handed home his second goal of the season to give Winkler a 1-0 lead. Nolan McGuire assisted on Dyck’s second of the year. With the shots tied at 11 a piece, the Flyers took their one goal lead into the second period.
Just past the midway point of the second period, Scott Gall scored a power-play goal to extend the Flyers lead to 2-0. Kayden Jarvis and Jordan Wall drew the assists on Gall’s 26th of the year. Just over three minutes later, Tyler Garrioch cut Winker’s lead to 2-1 and the Kings were back in the game. However, before the end of the second period, Nolan McGuire scored a power-play goal to restore the Flyers two goal advantage. Jeff Michiels and Jordan Wall drew the assists.
Leading 3-1 early in the third period, the Flyers added to their lead thanks to Scott Gall’s second of the game just 35 seconds into the final frame to put the Flyers in front by four goals. Jordan Wall picked up his third assist of the night on Gall’s 27th of the year.
Just minutes later, Coltyn Bates and Jeff Michiels assisted on Nolan McGuire’s second to give Winkler a 5-1 lead. With just over eight minutes gone in the period, Cam Whyte finished off a nice pass from Tristan Keck to push Winkler ahead by five goals.
Then with 8:20 remaining in regulation, Nolan McGuire found the back of the net for the third time in the game to complete the hat-trick and give Winkler a 7-1 lead. It was also the third assist of the night for Jeff Michiels.
Dauphin would tag on one more before the end to make the final 7-2 for the home side.
Nathan Warren made 28 saves on 30 shots while picking up his 10th win of the season. Winkler outshot the Kings 34-30 overall. Winkler went 2-for-3 on the power-play and 4-for-4 on the penalty-kill.
Winkler (36-12-3) will get ready for a trip to Waywayseecappo (14-35-4) on Tuesday, Febuary 16th. That game is the make up game from the Flyers postponed contest from mid January. Puck drop at the Waywayseecappo Arena Complex is 7:30pm with Matt Friesen’s pregame show live on Country 88.9FM and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com getting underway at 7:25pm.
Great Canadian Oil Change Three Stars
1st Star – F Nolan McGuire (Winkler)
2nd Star – F Scott Gall (Winkler)
3rd Star – D Jordan Wall (Winkler)
Winkler Canvas Hardest Working Flyer
G Nathan Warren