Central Stunner: Bismarck and Minot win Game 1's
Minot Minotauros 8 @ Austin Bruins 6 (Minot leads best of five series, 1-0) – Michael Louria and Tim Donohue each scored twice as the Minotauros surprised the Bruins with an offensive explosion in an 8-6 win in Game 1. Austin had a 3-1 lead, which was shortlived as Minot scored three straight goals to reclaim the lead at 4-3. Austin managed to tie the game at 6-6. Other Minot goals came from Jake McCann, Jadin Martin, Scott Dornbrock and Jacob Howie. Austin got goals from Guillaume Leclerc, Niko Hildenbrand, Trey Dodd, Jake Arroyo, Eli May and Luke Dietsch. Boxscore
Bismarck Bobcats 4 @ Aberdeen Wings 2 (Bismarck leads best of five series, 1-0) – Evan Giesler had a hat-trick as the playoff-tested Bobcats showed they are ready for another Central title run with an opening game win in Aberdeen on Friday. Giesler’s first goal came in the opening period and TJ Roo scored for the Wings knotting the game at 1-1. Giesler then scored twice more in the 2nd period as did Filip Starzynski pushing the Bobcats lead to 4-1. Drew Doyon added the other goal for the Wings. Boxscore
Janesville Jets 2 @ Michigan Warriors 4 (Michigan lead best of five series, 1-0) – Trevor Gorusch made 30 saves to help the Warriors take Game 1. The score was even at 1-1 after the 1st period as Brandon Schultz scored for the Jets and Jon Farkas scored for the Warriors. The Warriors pushed the lead to 3-1 with two goals early in the 3rd period from AJ Marcinek and Mitchell Wedding. Drew Callin scored on the power play to draw the Jets to within 3-2, but a late empty-net goal from TJ Stuntz secured the win. Boxscore
Johnstown Tomahawks 3 @ Port Huron Fighting Falcons 4 (OT) (Port Huron leads best of five series, 2-0) – The Fighting Falcons climbed back from a two-goal deficit in the 3rd period to ultimately win over overtime, 4-3. Johnstown opened up a 3-1 lead early in the 3rd period with goals from Jordan Watt, Brandon Reinholz and Trevor Recktenwald. Noah Batis had the lone goal for the Fighting Falcons. However, Port Huron started the comeback midway through the period with goals from Lucas Little and Elliot Tisdale. Then Tisdale scored halfway through overtime on the game-winner. Boxscore
Wenatchee Wild 3 @ Minnesota Wilderness 0 (Wenatchee leads best of five series, 1-0) – Chase Perry returned to his home state and stopped all 29 shots that came his way in his playoff debut as Wenatchee shutout Minnesota in Game 1. David Powlowski had the eventual game-winning goal in the 1st period and Matthew Nuttle and Nicholas Rivera scored in the 2nd period for the Wild. Omar Mullan picked up two assists in the game. Kasimir Kaskisuo took the loss, making 27 saves. Boxscore
Wichita Falls Wildcats 2 @ Amarillo Bulls 4 (Amarillo leads best of five series, 1-0) – Mike Davis scored twice and Collin Delia made 27 saves as the defending champs opened up their title defense with a 4-2 win over the Wildcats. Davis had the first two goals for the Bulls, which gave them a 2-1 lead after two periods. Matt Koch had the Wichita Falls goal. Goals from Tyler Gernhofer and Brendan Vetter early in the 3rd period pushed the lead to 4-1. Rudy Junda added a late goal for the Wildcats. Boxscore
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 1 @ Topeka RoadRunners 3 (Topeka leads best of five series, 1-0) – PJ Bridges made 22 saves as the RoadRunners took Game 1 from the Killer Bees, 3-1. Topeka led 1-0 after a 1st period goal from Jasen Fernsler and then took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd period on a goal from Jake Kamrass. The Killer Bees cut the Topeka lead to one as defenseman Marcus Ericsson scored midway through the 3rd period, but another goal from Kamrass late in regulation secured the win for the Roadrunners. Nick Schmit made 22 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Kenai River Brown Bears 0 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3 (Fairbanks leads best of five series, 1-0) – Kevin Aldridge stopped all 23 shots that came his way as the Ice Dogs blanked the Brown Bears, 3-0 in Game 1. Fairbanks scored a goal in each period. Tayler Munson scored a power play goals in the 1st period, Lonnie Clary added a 2nd period goal and Hans Gorowsky scored in the 3rd period. Defenseman Nick Hinz picked up two assists in the game. Kenai River goalie Zach Quinn made 31 saves in the loss. Boxscore
