Penalties prove costly in 6-4 loss to Rangers

(North York, ON) – The Buffalo Junior Sabres’ trips to the penalty box proved costly as the North York Rangers emerged 6-4 winners Sunday afternoon at the Herbert Carnegie Centennial Centre in North York, Ontario.
Tyler Gjurich gave the Jr. Sabres a 1-0 lead at the 2:51 mark of the first period with his third goal of the season. The Jr. Sabres, however, racked up two penalties to give North York a five-on-three power play opportunity on which Liam Kerins scored.  About 90 seconds later, again on the power play, Ryan Kinsella put the Rangers in the lead, 2-1.
Buffalo was not lacking for its own power play opportunities.  Buffalo’s Ryan Schmelzer responded with his own power play goal at the 12:57 mark of the first period to tie the game at 2-2, but the Rangers again regained the lead with Kerins’ second goal of the game.
Just under two minutes into the second period, Buffalo’s Nick Gullo (in the photo) tied the game at 3-3.  Again, the Rangers jumped back into the lead on a power play goal, this one by Taylor Pryce at the 11:43 mark.Buffalo got its own power play just a couple of minutes later and at the 14:21 mark David Seward’s goal evened the score at 4-4.
The third period was a back and forth affair with both sides applying their fair share of pressure.  The tie was broken at the 12:57 mark when Adam Valadao lifted the Rangers into a 5-4 lead.
With just over two minutes in the third period, Buffalo’s chances of getting back in the game were hurt severely by a late penalty.  The Jr. Sabres still pulled goalie Bobby Bloomfield for an extra skater, but North York’s Corey Kalk scored into the empty net to secure a 6-4 win for the hosts.
Bloomfield, in his first start of the season, turned aside 36 shots.
The Jr. Sabres return to action tomorrow night, when they host the Orangeville Flyers beginning at 7:30pm in the Northtown Center at Amherst.