The Winkler Flyers gave up four goals in the first period in a 7-4 loss to the visiting Virden Oil Capitals on Saturday night. The Flyers usually strong defensive play was lacking, as the club failed to string together their third win in a row.

Playing their second game in as many nights, the Flyers seemed to be on a roll, coming off back to back wins over the Steinbach Pistons which moved Winkler into first place in the standings.

The Flyers got off on the wrong foot as the Oil Caps scored first and would score three more times before the game was 14 minutes old. Winkler defenseman Matt Krawiec scored his first of the season between Virden’s first and second goal to tie the game up for a few moments.

Winkler goaltender Aaron Brunn was lifted just past the halfway mark of the opening period after allowing four goals on 11 shots. The Flyers found a spark near the end of the period when Will Blake scored his sixth of the year to cut Virden’s lead to 4-2.

Midway through the second, Brett Opperman deflected in a Mitch Dyck point shot on the power-play and the Flyers were a goal away from tying things up. The back breaker came when the Oil Caps restored their two goal lead with just one second left before the second intermission.

After Virden scored again just over eight minutes into the third, Mitch Dyck scored the Flyers’ second power-play goal of the game and Virden’s lead was now 6-4. The Oil Capitals scored an empty net goal in the final minute to make the final 7-4 for the visitors.

Troy Martyniuk made 19 saves on the 21 shots he faced as the Flyers outshot Virden 38-33. Winkler was 2-for-6 on the power-play and 5-for-6 on the penalty-kill.

The Flyers will face the Portage Terriers on Tuesday night in their next game. Puck drop at the Winkler Rec Complex is 7:30pm.

GREAT CANADIAN OIL CHANGE THREE STARS

1ST STAR – F KYLE SALAWAY (VIRDEN)

2ND STAR – D MITCH DYCK (WINKLER)

3RD STAR – F TYLER KIRKUP (VIRDEN)

GAME STATS