The OCN Blizzard and Winkler Flyers will meet for the final time this season tonight. The two teams have played each other evenly in the first 5 meetings, Winkler has the slight edge winning 3 of the 5 contests. (Read more…)
The OCN Blizzard come into the evenings contest having won 10 of their last 11 games, including 3 straight and are one of the hottest teams in the MJHL. Wins last week over Swan Valley and Waywayseecappo have the Blizzard in a tight race with Winkler, Selkirk and Portage for the 2nd through 5th playoff spots come March. The Blizzard have been led between the pipes recently with goaltenders Brett Epp and Matt Kustra playing outstanding hockey. Kustra with a 42 save shutout on Saturday, and Epp winning both his contests last week have proven the Blizzard have a top goaltending tandem in the MJHL. Offensively George King, Tristan Elie and Jeremy Dumont have proven to be a top scoring line and have put up solid numbers night in and night out.
If the OCN Blizzard can continue to score at the pace they have over the past few weeks they should stand a solid chance on the road and could turn tonight’s game into a great one. The Blizzard have struggled to score goals in Winkler and have managed just 2 in 2 contests this season. A win tonight could pull OCN into 2 points of the Flyers and Steelers for 2nd and 3rd in the MJHL.
|
DATE |
AWAY |
HOME |
SCORE |
TYPE |
|
|
21-Oct-16 |
OCN Blizzard |
@ |
Winkler Flyers |
1 – 5 |
RS |
|
22-Oct-16 |
OCN Blizzard |
@ |
Winkler Flyers |
1 – 2 |
RS |
|
05-Nov-16 |
Winkler Flyers |
@ |
OCN Blizzard |
1 – 3 |
RS |
|
06-Nov-16 |
Winkler Flyers |
@ |
OCN Blizzard |
3 – 2 OT |
RS |
|
28-Jan-17 |
Winkler Flyers |
@ |
OCN Blizzard |
0 – 2 |
RS |
For Winkler, they bring a great crowd and home atmosphere to any game in Winkler and tonight’s expected to be no exception. The Flyers have been missing their top scorer in Scott Gall the past few weeks and have been missing is offensive output. Without him in the lineup they dropped a game on the road to the league leading Steinbach Pistons last night 4-2. He’s been out since mid-January and without him they dropped their last contest with OCN, 2-0 at the GLMC.
|
TEAM |
GP |
W |
L |
OTL |
PTS |
GF |
GA |
STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
54 |
45 |
8 |
1 |
91 |
232 |
108 |
W2 |
|
|
55 |
38 |
14 |
3 |
79 |
206 |
137 |
L1 |
|
|
58 |
38 |
17 |
3 |
79 |
208 |
170 |
W2 |
|
|
55 |
36 |
16 |
3 |
75 |
186 |
140 |
W3 |
|
|
54 |
33 |
18 |
3 |
69 |
227 |
174 |
L2 |
|
|
56 |
27 |
24 |
5 |
59 |
188 |
190 |
W2 |
|
|
55 |
23 |
24 |
8 |
54 |
150 |
182 |
L1 |
|
|
54 |
18 |
31 |
5 |
41 |
146 |
214 |
L5 |
|
|
53 |
16 |
31 |
6 |
38 |
144 |
206 |
L1 |
|
|
56 |
15 |
35 |
6 |
36 |
132 |
209 |
L4 |
|
|
54 |
13 |
37 |
4 |
30 |
156 |
245 |
L2 |
Broadcast of the game can be heard on 102.9 CJAR tonight at 7:15pm with puck drop set for 7:30pm. The OCN Blizzard have 5 games remaining this season with 4 on the road and just 1 at the GLMC. Following tonight, the Blizzard will meet the Blues in Winnipeg tomorrow.