January 5, 2017 · 0 Comments
The Orangeville Junior A Flyers ended 2016 with a win over the Buffalo Jr. Sabres on Saturday, December 31.
While both teams may have been making plans for New Year’s eve, it was all business when the puck dropped to get things underway in the afternoon game at the Alder Street arena.
The Sabres got off to a bad start when they were accessed a bench minor and had to start the game a man short.
The Flyers capitalized on the man advantage with Ryan Barbosa getting the opening goal at just 54 seconds into the game.
It was a penalty that ultimately cost Buffalo the game.
The Sabres tied it up three minutes later but again the Flyers were ahead on a goal from Bailey Molella late in the period for a 2-1 lead.
Another Orangeville powerplay in the second frame move the Flyers ahead by two when Masson Sarris found the back of the Buffalo net midway in the period.
The Sabres closed the gap with a marker early in the final period and while the Buffalo squad battled hard to try to get a tying goal the Flyers turned their defence up a notch and managed to keep the play in the Buffalo zone.
A final empty netter from Michael Mannara with 34 seconds left on the clock put the cap on the game for the Flyers with a 4-2 win.
“We ran into some penalty trouble in the second period, but we blocked shots and were taking away passing lanes, and that let us get out of there unscathed,” said Flyers goalie Ruan Badenhorst of the period where the Buffalo squad was driving hard to get back into the game. “Buffalo’s a physical team. They came out hard and we matched them. We didn’t let them push us around. We’ve been working on a new defensive zone structure and it worked pretty well tonight. It’s a testament to our ‘D’ core and how we;; we can shut these teams down. They’re not getting the quality chances they want to.”
It was win number 13 for the Flyers who now have a 13-21-1 record for the reason, good enough for 28 points.
The Flyers will be back on home ice on Friday, January 6 to host the Mississauga Chargers. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.