The Oil Caps winning streak has hit six games after the club defeated the Flyers by a score of 4-2 on Tuesday night.
It wasn’t easy for the Oil Caps after falling behind on a goal from Drake Burgin at the 16:22 mark of the first period as the Flyers held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. However, the Oil Caps responded in a positive fashion as Tanner Andrew buried his 10thof the year at 8:55 of the second to tie the game at one piece.
The game would be decided in the third period as Brayden Pawluk’s third of the season at 7:36 made it 2-1 for Virden before the Flyers clawed back as Connor Beebe’s marker at 10:24 tied the game 2-2.
Approximately a minute and a half later, Oil Caps captain Ben Dalke would give Virden a lead they wouldn’t relinquish on this night as his 10thof the season at 11:55 made it 3-2. Jayden Wojciechowski’s first of the year into an empty net with 31 seconds left iced the game as the Oil Caps improved to 16-11-1-4 on the year.
“We talked about getting off to a slow start in the last couple games and trying to remedy that and I thought we did a good job,” said Tyson Ramsey, Oil Caps assistant coach. “I thought we started the game pretty well, we just didn’t direct enough pucks at the net. I thought we had the puck in their zone quite a bit but just didn’t seem to generate anything. In the second and third, we battled. It was a funny game in that there were times we looked really good and then there were times that maybe we didn’t push hard enough or compete hard enough, but at the end of the day, we got the two points. It’s a huge win knowing that we’re in the log jam that we’re in right now in the standings.”
Dalton Dosch backstopped the Oil Caps to the win between the pipes, making 34 saves in the process, picking up his 13thwin of the season. Riley Morgan took the loss in net for Winkler, turning aside 14 shots as the Flyers dropped to 13-16-2-0.
Tonight’s game was part of the MJHL Showcase and took place at Seven Oaks Rec Centre in Winnipeg.
“Big game for us and sometimes these Showcase games can get in the heads of players, but I thought we overcame all the pressure and ended up pulling out a good solid game,” said Oil Caps forward Kolten Kanaski.
Next up for the Oil Caps:The MJHL Showcase continues tonight as the Oil Caps battle Steinbach. Game time: 7 p.m. at Seven Oaks Rec Centre.