Despite the loss, the Blues were neck-and-neck with the Flyers from puck drop to final buzzer.
Shots were just 9-7 in Winkler’s favour after the opening period. The visitors were to put away two open looks to close out the period with a 2-0 lead.
Play was even closer in the second. The Blues had more opportunities, outshooting Winkler 14-13. Each team put away a goal a piece to finish off the second 3-1 for the Flyers. The Blues’ goal was scored by forward Nathan Adrian and assisted by Codey Behun and Kelton Sutherland.
Then about half way through the third, the Blues pushed into a higher gear. Rookie Jayson Szun fired past Winkler’s netminder to narrow the score to a one-point deficit. Szun’s goal was assisted by Griffin Chwaliboga and Tony Apetagon.
The Blues spent the majority of the game’s closing minutes in Winkler’s end, but the Flyers’ defence and goalie, Riley Morgan, shut down any scoring chances. Morgan put a stop to 14 shots in the period.
The Blues play again on Saturday, Feb. 9 as they host Virden at Bell MTS Iceplex. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.