(Toronto, ON) – The Buffalo Junior Sabres avenged a home loss earlier in the week to the St. Michael’s Buzzers, defeating the Buzzers 4-1 Friday night at the St. Michael’s College School Arena in Toronto.
Alex Dagnal opened the scoring at the 11:31 mark of the first period with his fourth goal of the season. St. Michael’s quickly tied the game on Nicholas Lepone’s goal at the 12:27 mark. Nolan Sheeran put the Jr. Sabres back in the lead with his goal, scored with just 12 seconds remaining in the opening period.
Tyler Gjurich added a power play goal in the second period, while David Seward scored his own power play goal in the third period.
Parker Gahagen made 34 saves in his fourth straight start in goal for the Jr. Sabres, but St. Michael’s had four quality scoring chances go off the pipes behind Gahagen, three off goalposts and one off the crossbar. Gahagen made several clutch saves in the third period, no goalposts needed, to preserve Buffalo’s lead. St. Michael’s webcast announcer even referred to Gahagen at one point as a “human highlight reel” this evening.
Buffalo’s record improves to three wins and one loss. The team will continue its road swing with a Sunday afternoon game at the North York Rangers, then return home to the Northtown Center at Amherst for a Monday night game against the Orangeville Flyers, beginning at 7:30pm.
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Prior to the game, the in-house music operator did not play the U.S. national anthem. The Buzzers, in a classy gesture, were very quick to apologize for what it called a rookie error. The club’s apology included a public expression of regret to the Jr. Sabres and its fans on the Buzzers’ official Twitter account.
The Buzzers also publicly praised Jr. Sabres president Larry Playfair and the Buffalo Sabres Alumni for their management of the Jr. Sabres, expressing their belief that NHL Alumni should get involved in other junior clubs, especially those in their hometown of Toronto.
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