Jr. Sabres Win Fourth in a Row

(Photo: Ken Czworka)

All three players scored in the shooutout for Buffalo as the Jr. Sabres took a 5-4 win over the OJHL’s Toronto Lakeshore Patriots on January 28, extending the team’s winning streak to four consecutive games.

Niko Kovachis opened the scoring for Toronto Lakeshore, scoring the lone goal in the first period and giving the Patriots a 1-0 lead.

Jr. Sabres defenseman Derek Patterson was served a hooking penalty 5:01 into the second period, opening up an opportunity for Buffalo to score short-handed. That’s exactly what they did, as Tyler Gjurich scored his 44th goal of the season just seven seconds into the penalty.

With the game tied, the teams exchanged goals in the remainder of the second period. Wes Deme scored to give Toronto Lakeshore a 2-1 lead, but Gjurich tallied again to once again tie the game.

With just over a minute remaining in the middle frame, Mike Vallescuro scored to once again give the Patriots the lead.

That lead didn’t last long, however, as Buffalo’s David Seward scored just sixteen seconds into the third period to tie the game once again.

Max Mikowski gave the Jr. Sabres their first lead of the night, scoring at the 5:43 mark of the final period.

Once again, however, Toronto Lakeshore would rally back to tie it up – this time, on a goal by Daniel Tedesco with just over three minutes remaining in regulation.

After an uneventful overtime period, the teams went to a shootout.

Both of the first two shooters scored, with Tyler Gjurich and Doug Bonar tallying to tie the shootout at one goal apiece. Josh Kielich scored for Buffalo before Kelby Lorenz was denied for Toronto Lakeshore. Finally, Nolan Sheeran scored on his shootout attempt to give the Jr. Sabres the victory.

Gjurich led Buffalo with two goals and an assist on the night and now has 14 points in his last five games. Seward had a goal and assist, and Nathan Pelligra also had a pair of assists in the win.

The Jr. Sabres are now the top team in the OJHL, one point ahead of Trenton. Buffalo has at least a point in 37 of 48 games this season and will return to action – and look to make it five wins in a row – when they host the Georgetown Raiders at 7:30 p.m. on February 4.