The Winkler Flyers won the special teams battle on Friday night in a 4-3 win over the visiting Swan Valley Stampeders. With two of their four goals scored on the man advantage, the Flyers earned their 30th win of the season while picking up their third win in a row.

Playing the second game of a four game home stand, the Flyers were looking to use their win over the first place Steinbach Pistons on Tuesday as a momentum builder for their two weekend home games. In their previous three games against the Stampeders, the Flyers had three wins.

It was a good opening 20 minutes for the Flyers as they carried the play and spent most of the period in the offensive zone. Winkler scored first, with 5:47 left in the period thanks to a power-play goal by defenseman Tyler Jubenvill. Coltyn Bates assisted on Jubenvill’s ninth of the year. With 90 seconds left in the period, Stampeders forward Trevor Mann tied the game 1-1 on one of the four shots the visitors had in the opening frame.

Winkler did get a spark before intermission and once again it came from Tyler Jubenvill who scored his second of the game with just 11 seconds left before intermission. Winkler took their one goal lead into the second while outshooting Swan 17-4. Tanner Lewis and Scott Gall assisted on Jubenvill’s second goal of the game and third in his last four games.

The Flyers started the second period with their third goal of the game just past the five minute mark. Lewis and Gall both earned their second assists of the game on Braden Billaney’s 13th of the year and third in his last three games. The Stampeders pushed back in the middle frame and cut Winkler’s lead to 3-2 just before the midway point of the period.

Early in the third period, the Flyers would regain their two goal lead with their second power-play goal of the game. From Lawson McDonald, the puck made its way to Tyler Jubenvill who threw it towards the front of the net. With two assists already in the game, Scott Gall would get a piece of the puck, deflecting it past goaltender Brett Evans to give Winkler a 4-2 lead. The goal was Gall’s team leading 24th of the season and third in his last three games.

The third period was the best for Swan as they would outshoot the Flyers 16-5 and cut Winkler’s lead to 4-3 with 7:30 gone in the period. The Flyers wouldn’t make it easy on themselves as they would spend seven of the last 12 minutes of the game in the penalty box, giving the visitors a great opportunity to even up the game. However, the Flyers defensive effort and penalty-killing would stand strong and finish the game with a 4-3 advantage.

Troy Martyniuk improved to 5-0 as a Flyer with a 28 save performance in goal. Winkler outshot Swan Valley 34-31 overall. The Flyers went 2-for-5 on the power-play and 7-for-7 on the penalty-kill. Winkler has now scored 10 power-play goals in their last nine games, and have not allowed a power-play goal against in their last five.

The Flyers (30-10-2) will host the Winnipeg Blues on Sunday, January 22nd. Puck drop at the Winkler Recreation Complex is 7:30pm. Advance tickets are available at the Winkler Coop Gas Bar. The Flyers sit in third place in the MJHL Standings. One point back of the second place Selkirk Steelers with two games in hand and seven points behind the first place Steinbach Pistons.

Great Canadian Oil Change Three Stars

1st Star – D Tyler Jubenvill (Winkler)

2nd Star – F Scott Gall (Winkler)

3rd Star – G – Brett Evans (Swan Valley)

GAME STATS