The Winkler Flyers fell on hard times in a 4-2 loss to the visiting Waywayseecappo Wolverines on Sunday afternoon. Despite outshooting their opponents 35-15 in the game, the Flyers suffered their first regulation loss at home.
With a day off after beating the Wolverines 4-2 on Friday night, the Flyers hosted a Wayway club playing their third game in just over 36 hours.
The Flyers had a great start to the game and were outshooting Wayway 10-1 midway through the first but failed to get any of those shots past Wolverines goaltender Mitch Wiebe. The Wolverines took advantage and took a 1-0 lead with 7:56 to play in the period.
Winkler kept getting pucks on net in the second and finally got one over the line with 4:35 left in the period. During a scramble in front, Tristan Keck found the puck at the top of the crease and scored his first of the game, tying the contest 1-1. Josh Cook and Zach Heisinger assisted.
The two teams skated into the second intermission tied at one with the Flyers outshooting the Wolverines 25-7.
Waywayseecappo went back in front 2-1 at the 6:56 mark of the third period but Winkler would tie the game again just over four minutes later. After Josh Cook won the offensive zone faceoff, Tristan Keck fired a wrist shot off the cross bar and in and the game was tied 2-2. It was Keck’s second goal of the game and league leading 20th of the season.
The Wolverines caught another break and went back in front 3-2 with 3:32 left in regulation and added an empty netter with eight seconds left in secure the 4-2 victory.
It was Winkler’s first regulation loss at home this season, dropping their home ice record to (9-1-2).
Adam Vander Linden (4-4-2) took the loss making 11 saves on the 14 shots he faced. The Flyers outshot the Wolverines 35-15 overall. The Flyers struggled on the power-play going 0-for-8. Winkler was 2-for-2 on the penalty-kill.
The Flyers (13-4-4) will look to rebound when they host the Portage Terriers (8-1-1) on Tuesday night. Puck drop at the Winkler Recreation Complex is 7:30pm. The Flyers are (1-1-1) against Portage this season. The Flyers, who sit it second place in the MJHL are seven points back of the first place Terriers and five points ahead of the third place Winnipeg Blues.