Pat Egan (in photo, courtesy OJHL Images) was a peerless playmaker for the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, as he dished out three to beat the Mississauga Chargers, 7-2.
Buffalo’s penalty kill excelled, as the Jr. Sabres gave up one goal despite allowing six power plays.
Referees had their hands full with a major incident at 11:10 into the second period. Four fighting penalties were dished out along with two game misconducts.
The Buffalo penalty box was a popular destination as the team totaled nine minors and two majors for 48 minutes in penalty time. The Jr. Sabres had been averaging 17.0 minutes in penalties per game. Buffalo kept Mississauga’s goalie busy throughout the game, and Alex Lepore made 44 saves on 51 shots. The Jr. Sabres bested their season scoring average. Buffalo averages 4.7 goals per game.
Buffalo additionally got points from Mason Evans, who also registered one goal and one assist, Michael Ederer, who also grabbed one goal and one assist, and Nick Smith, who also finished with one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Buffalo included Ryan Kuhn, who had two and Tim Kielich and Nolan Sheeran, who each put in one. More assists for Buffalo came via Nick Desimone, who had two and Max Mikowski, Ben Casale, Nico Gonzalez, Nathan Black, Dylan Gamble, and Jason Heerdt, who contributed one a piece.
The Chargers were often in penalty trouble, totaling 11 minors and two majors for 62 minutes in penalty time. The total exceeded the 23.0 minutes per game Mississauga had been spending in the box.
Joseph Pianta made 21 saves for the Jr. Sabres on 23 shots. Buffalo registered three goals on 10 power play opportunities. For the Jr. Sabres, Gonzalez and Smith were ejected from the contest. Team’s Alex Mills, Jacob Harrison, and Ryan Harrison were slapped with misconducts and ejected from the game.
