The Winkler Flyers earned their first win of the season on Tuesday night, doubling the visiting Winnipeg Blues 4-2. Captain Nolan McGuire led the way with two goals to help the Orange and Black rebound from their struggles on opening weekend.

Having started the regular season with back to back losses, both the Flyers and the Blues met on Tuesday night looking to find the win column for the first time. Unlike their two early season losses to Neepawa, the Flyers were a more consistent and better disciplined club against Winnipeg.

The Flyers hard work in the first period paid off when Jacob Lacasse put the home side on the board first, 10:57 into the opening period. Winnipeg would tie the game at one early in the second on a goal by Dexter Kuczek.

After starting the season 0-for-14 on the man advantage, Winkler capitalized on their first power-play of the game to retake the lead. Near the midway point of the second period, Lucas Barker found Nolan McGuire in the slot and the Winkler Captain sent a perfect wrist shot under the cross bar for his second goal of the season. Defenseman Mitch Dyck also assisted, and the Flyers were up 2-1.

Winnipeg would get a power-play goal of the own with just under three minutes left in the period to send the game into the second intermission tied 2-2.

The third period belonged to Winkler, as they pushed hard to the finish. The Flyers outshot the Blues 14-6 in the final frame and would tack on two more goals. The first one came from Matt Christian after taking the pass from Cole Kirkup and firing it low blocker on Winnipeg netminder Jacob Gnidziejko. Coltyn Bates drew the second assist.

Winkler’s insurance goal came with 9:31 left in regulation when McGuire finished off a great cross ice pass from Mitch Dyck, scoring his second of the game, giving Winkler a 4-2 lead.

With Troy Martyniuk steady between the pipes, that is all Winkler would need to pick up their first two points of the year. Martyniuk (1-2-0) made 30 saves in the victory, as the Flyers outshot the Blues 38-32. Winkler went 1-for-2 on the power-play and 4-for-5 on the penalty-kill.

The Flyers (1-2-0) will host Waywayseecappo (0-2-0) on Friday night, starting a busy stretch of three games in three days. Puck drop at the Winkler Rec Complex is 7:30pm. Friday’s game will be another Petro Canada Black Friday. If you fill up at Petro Canada on Friday, you will receive two free tickets to the game. You will also be entered into a draw for a $20 Petro Canada Gift Card. For every goal the Flyers score on Friday night, a $20 Petro Canada Gift Card will be awarded to a lucky fan who entered their named at Petro Canada.

 

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GREAT CANADIAN OIL CHANGE THREE STARS
1ST STAR – F NOLAN McGUIRE (WINKLER)
2ND STAR – D MITCH DYCK (WINKLER)
3RD STAR – F MATT CHRISTIAN (WINKLER)

GAME STATS