The Buffalo Jr. Sabres took a 1-0 series lead against the North York Rangers with a 3-2 win on Wednesday night.
After North York’s Louis Kereakou was charged with a cross-checking penalty, it took Buffalo just 12 seconds into the power play to take a 1-0 lead.
Aaron Reinig opened the scoring for Buffalo with his first of the playoffs. Zach Evancho and Bryce Ferrell notched the assists.
Griffin Lunn then scored his first of the playoffs to put Buffalo up by two less than three minutes later. CHris Berger and Ryan Wheeler registered helpers on the second Jr. Sabres goal.
A penalty-filled second period saw the teams combine for 30 penalty minutes. Despite multiple power-play opportunites for Buffalo, the score remained 2-0 until Chris Sekelyk put North York on the board.
Aaron Reinig scored his second power-play goal of the night to regain the two-goal lead for Buffalo. Evancho registered the lone assist, also his second of the night.
North York got one back at the hands of Fedor Rudakov in the third, but Buffalo held on for the 3-2 win.
Tucker Weppner had 19 saves in the win, while Gianluca Baggetta stopped 24 of 27 shots faced for the Rangers.
The teams will return to action Thursday night at 8 p.m. for the second game of the series.
