The Winkler Flyers seven game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday night, with a 4-1 loss to the visiting Selkirk Steelers. The Flyers matched the Steelers with 33 shots, but couldn’t find their touch around the net falling short for the first time since their home opener.

The Flyers got off to an uncharacteristically slow start, falling behind 2-0 in the first 12 minutes. After scoring first in eight of their previous nine games, Winkler now found themselves playing from behind for the first time since the second game of the regular season.

Selkirk took a 1-0 lead just before the five minute mark of the first, and doubled that lead to 2-0 with a 5-on-3 power-play goal with 7:58 left in the period. On the ensuing 5-on-4 penalty-kill, the Flyers got one of those back when Matt Christian sent a shot flying over the shoulder of Hayden Dola, cutting Selkirk’s lead in half. It was Christian’s fourth goal of the season and the Flyers’ league leading fourth short-handed goal of the year.

After being outshot 17-8 in the first 20 minutes, the Flyers started playing better in the second, but the bounces continued to go Selkirk’s way. The visitors scored again just past the five minute mark of the middle period to restore their two goal lead. Then with 8:13 left in the period, the Steelers scored again to take a 4-1 lead into the third.

The Flyers did go on to outshoot the Steelers 13-5 in the third, but the score would remain the same as the final buzzer sounded.

Troy Martyniuk took the loss, despite playing well. Both teams finished the game with 33 shots. The Flyers were 0-for-5 on the power-play and 5-for-6 on the penalty-kill.

The Flyers (7-3-0), who have played eight of their first ten games at home, will hit the road this weekend for three games in three days. The Flyers will play in Neepawa, Dauphin and Virden on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and all three games can be heard live on Country 88.9FM and online at www.pembinavalleyonline.com with Matt Friesen’s pregame show beginning five minutes prior to puck drop.

PHOTO GALLERY AND VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS CLICK HERE

GREAT CANADIAN OIL CHANGE THREE STARS
1ST STAR – F CARTER BARLEY (SELKIRK)
2ND STAR – F NICO LABOSSIERE (SELKIRK)
3RD STAR – F MATT CHRISTIAN (WINKLER)

GAME STATS