Buffalo Makes it Four in a Row

(Max Mikowski – File Photo courtesy of Buffalo Jr. Sabres)

The Buffalo Jr. Sabres earned an important two points tonight – and made stronger the team’s position at the top of the OJHL – with a commanding 7-0 win over the Georgetown Raiders.

Forward Max Mikowski opened the scoring for Buffalo at the 5:13 mark of the first period, while Tyler Gjurich added his first of four goals just over a minute later to give the Jr. Sabres an early 2-0 lead.

Nolan Sheeran scored about six minutes later before Gjurich notched a power-play goal at 18:03 of the first period, giving Buffalo a 4-0 lead after just twenty minutes of play.

In the second period, Gjurich – who already had four goals in the previous two games, both wins over the Oakville Blades – added two more goals in a span of less than three minutes.

Finally, Ryan Schmelzer scored at 13:24 of the third period to make it 7-0.

The game was filled with a number of fights, resulting in 81 penalty minutes being dished out between the two teams. Seven game misconducts were handed out, along with several fighting majors, cross-checking and roughing penalties.

Jr. Sabres goaltender Parker Gahagen stopped all 19 shots to earn his third consecutive shutout on home ice. Eleven Buffalo players had at least a point, with six – Gjurich, Schmelzer, and Sheeran, along with David Seward, Ryall Ledyard and Sean Federow – having multi-point games.

Georgetown remains in second place in the West Division of the OJHL, with Buffalo still holding the top spot. The teams meet again on December 1 and January 5 in Georgetown before returning to play in Buffalo February 4.

As for the Jr. Sabres, the team will now prepare to face the Hamilton Red Wings on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., their third game in five nights. Buffalo is now on a four-game winning streak dating back to October 30; they last lost to Georgetown by a score of 4-1 on October 28 and have won seven of their last eight games.