(Oakville, ON) – The Buffalo Jr. Sabres are one loss away from ending their 2011-2012 campaign. The Oakville Blades took a commanding three-games-to-none lead in the Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division Semifinal on saturday night with an equally commanding performance in Game Three, blanking Buffalo 5-0 at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville.
Blades captain Kyle Blaney scored twice for the hosts, while Brandon Denham, Tyler Karius and Martin Kudla added goals. The Blaney-Denham-Karius line produced the Blades’ first three goals. Phil Hampton registered two assists.
Buffalo goaltender Parker Gahagen made 23 saves on 27 shots before being pulled midway in the third period for Curran McNamara, who made eight saves and conceded one power play goal.
Game Four is Sunday night at the Northtown Center at Amherst, beginning at 7:00pm.
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NOTES:
– Game Three was stopped for several minutes during the second period when a fan was struck by a puck that left the ice. The Oakville and Buffalo trainers both assisted the fan, as did the Brampton Capitals trainer who happened to be in the rink, until paramedics arrived. The Blades’ official Twitter account reported that the fan did get up on her own power and walked upstairs before she was taken out of the arena via stretcher for treatment. We’re told she’ll be OK and, along with the Blades, wish her a full and speedy recovery.
– Shane Bennett and David Seward both returned to the lineup in Game Three. Bennett missed the first two games of the series while serving a suspension for his misconduct penalties in the final game of the Hamilton series. Seward missed time due to a lower body injury.
