Buffalo Jr. Sabres forward Josh Biasillo notched his first Ontario Junior Hockey League hat trick en route to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots on Wednesday at HARBORCENTER.
Chris Berger extended his point streak to a team-leading seven games, while captain Zach Evancho extended his own streak to five games. Brenden Dunning also extended his personal point streak to six games.
Biasillo, Wilson Vershay and Nicholas Bondra each extended their streaks to three games.
The high-scoring, physical game kicked off with the captain himself notching his eighth goal of the season. David Baskerville and Dunning notched the assists on the lone goal in the opening frame.
The middle frame went off with a bang as the teams combined for five goals in a span of 8:14.
After Toronto’s Connor Beck and Buffalo’s Evan Bennett each got served coincidental minors for roughing, Patriots defenseman Daniel Barnes took a cross-checking penalty to give the Jr. Sabres their second power-play of the night — and they took advantage.
Andrew Pizzo notched the power play tally, putting the puck up top-shelf to give Buffalo a 2-0 lead, but it was short-lived.
Just 2:01 later, Beck scored for the Patriots to make it a one-goal game.
The Jr. Sabres couldn’t regroup, and the Patriots found their way through, with Jake Harris tying the game a short time later.
But Josh Biasillo had a little something to say about that, scoring his first of the night at 15:25 of the second period to put Buffalo up once again. Biasillo had some crafty work behind the Patriots’ net to steal the puck back; he then got it around and snuck it in for the goal.
It would, again, be a short-lived lead, as just 1:34 later, Michael Siddall scored for the Patriots, and teams skated off after 40 minutes tied at three.
But the Jr. Sabres were ready to roll. After Siddall was served with a minor for roughin after the whistle, Biasillo added his second of the night to give Buffalo a 4-3 lead — and they never looked back.
Chris Berger would score his seventh of he season to extend his point streak midway through the third, and Biasillo would add a third goal on the empty net to give himself his first OJHL hat trick, and give the Jr. Sabres a 6-3 win.
Biasillo now has seven goals on the season.
Tucker Weppner made 14 saves in the win for the Jr. Sabres.
The Patriots split their goaltending duties, with Jacob Standen starting and ending the game (16 saves, 18 shots faced) and Sean O’Reilly coming in between his stints to make nine saves on 12 shots faced.
The Jr. Sabres next game is Friday, October 23 against the Burllngton Cougars. Buffalo then hosts Mississauga on October 28 at HARBORCENTER, 7:35 pm.