AMHERST, NY – The Buffalo Jr. Sabres opened their 2014 Ontario Junior Hockey League Playoffs with a 4-1 win over the Mississauga Chargers in Game One of their best-of-seven first round series.
Nick Desimone‘s power play goal late in the first period proved to be the game winner.
Michael Ederer had one goal and one assist, while Ryan Schmelzer and Max Mikowski scored goals as well. Recording assists were Ben Casale, who had one and Dennis Gilbert and Josh Gabriel, who contributed two apiece.
Mississauga was led by Zack Lansfield, who scored the team’s only goal. Lansfield scored 10:09 into the second period to make the score 1-1. Ayrton Valente assisted on the tally.
Joseph Pianta made 21 saves for the Jr. Sabres on 22 shots. Buffalo incurred four minutes in penalty time with two minors. Austin Washkurak rejected 26 shots on goal for the Chargers. Mississauga incurred 30 minutes in penalty time with five minors. For the Chargers, Nick Tetley was ejected from the game.
Game Two will be played Saturday evening at Port Credit Arena in Mississauga with the Jr. Sabres hosting Game Three at First Niagara Center in Buffalo the following night, beginning at 7 p.m.
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Photo: Buffalo’s Joe Pianta makes the save on Mississauga’s Trevor Waarnar during Game One. Courtesy Timothy Ludwig, OJHL Images.
