Bryce Ferrell and Tim Nicksic each registered two goals as the Buffalo Jr. Sabres rode their way to their fourth consecutive win with a 5-1 victory over the North York Rangers on November 4 at HARBORCENTER.
Brenden Dunning also notched a goal, his ninth of the season, to help the Jr. Sabres to the victory. Tucker Weppner had 13 saves as Buffalo eventually outpowered the Rangers, outshooting them 32-14.
The game started off quietly, with five shots exchanged between the two teams in first nine minutes. Weppner put up several big saves to keep the score at zero, before the Jr. Sabres had multiple close chances at the other end — doing everything BUT putting the puck in the net.
North York’s Jacob DeMaeyer took a roughing penalty with just over five minutes to go in the first, and that was the first turning point. The Jr. Sabres were already rolling, and it took just 26 seconds of the power-play for Buffalo to take advantage.
It was Ferrell’s fifth of the season, just a few short days after he scored his first OJHL hat trick in the team’s win on Halloween. David Baskerville and Zach Evancho registered assists on Ferrell’s first of the night; they’d each end the night with three assists.
After the close of the first twenty minutes, the Jr. Sabres lead 1-0 and were outshooting the Rangers 14-4, but the second period would prove to be more evenly matched.
This time, it was North York’s turn to score on the power play. Keegan Blasby potted one for the Rangers, assisted by Ryan Hunt and Tyler Currie.
More penalties ensued throughout the second, but the score remained tied at the end of the middle frame.
The Jr. Sabres rolled into the third period with fire in their steps.
After Walker Hincenbergs took a hooking penalty with 9:33 to go on the clock, it was Buffalo’s time to put the pedal to the floor.
Just 10 seconds into the man advantage, Ferrell tallied his second of the night to give the Jr. Sabres the lead — and they never looked back.
Roughly five minutes after Ferrell gave Buffalo their second lead of the night, Nicksic scored his first of the evening on the team’s 30th shot of the night.
A short minute and 27 seconds later, Dunning put it in the empty net to make it a 4-1 game.
The Rangers put Baggette back in, and Buffalo still didn’t let up. 1:23 after Dunning’s goal, Nicksic got his second of the night to make it 5-1, and the Jr. Sabres walked away with their fourth consecutive victory.
Defenseman Mitchell Spring was awarded Player of the Game honors after he suited up as a forward in Wednesday’s win.
Overall, the Jr. Sabres have outscored their opponents by a collective 21-6 over the course of their four-game winning streak. They’ve also outshot their opponents, 123-105.
The Jr. Sabres return to action on Friday, November 6, hosting the Toronto Jr. Canadiens at 7:35 p.m. at HARBORCENTER.
