Friday Finals: Race in the South tightens
Rio Grande Valley 4 @ Odessa 6 – Thanks to a strong start, a 6-4 win by the Jackalopes made the race for the final playoff spot in the South a lot more interesting. Four, 1st period goals gave the Jacks the early edge, which included goals from Kenny Hausinger, Hampus Sjodahl, Razmus Waxin-Engback and Derek Brown. After a 1st period goal from Rio Grande Valley’s Anthony Croston, the Killer Bees stormed back with three goals in the 2nd period to tie the game at 4-4 on two goals from Dallas Gerads and another from Guy Roby. However, both Sjodahl and Hausinger added their second goals of the game in the 3rd period to help Odessa secure the 6-4 win. Boxscore
Topeka 3 @ Amarillo 4 (OT) – AJ Duggan scored 2:16 into overtime to give the Bulls a huge 4-3 win over the division-leading RoadRunners. Topeka blasted 49 shots on goal, but Bulls goalie Anton Martinsson was equal to the challenge, making 46 saves in the win. The Bulls lead 1-0 on an early goal from Luke Novak, which was answered in the 2nd period on a strike from Topeka’s Sly Sutter. Cody Gylling then gave the Bulls a two-goal cushion with back-to-back goals in his return to the line-up. Topeka would fight back in the 3rd period to tie the game on goals from Daniel Rzavsky and Ryan Poiln. The OT-winner from Duggan came after a nice pass from Will Harrison behind the net to Duggan, who beat Drew Vogler from the low slot. Boxscore
MN Magicians 4 @ Aberdeen 3 – The Magicians got off to a great start and held on for a 4-3 win, as they inched closer towards securing the final playoff spot in the Midwest. Nikita Milekhin scored his first goal of the season to put Minnesota up 1-0 in the 1st period and 2nd period goals from Lukas Laub and Connor Bucsis made it 3-0. In the 3rd period, Aberdeen came back with two goals from Colin O’Neill and Bjorn Sigurdarson, but Milekhin’s second of the game proved to be the game-winner as Eric Moser added a late goal for the Wings. Vaughan Ahrens played well in goal for the Magicians, making 42 saves. Boxscore
Kenai River 0 @ Bismarck 1 - Evan Giesler scored late in regulation and Hunter Shepard made 18 saves for his first career shutout as the Bismarck Bobcats edged the Kenai River Brown Bears 1-0 Friday at the VFW Sports Center. It seemed the game was destined for extra time, Giesler, however, finally broke the deadlock with 6:51 to go in regulation redirecting a high shot from Cole Souto under Evan Hauser and in for a 1-0 lead. Hauser played well in the loss, making 42 saves. Boxscore
Corpus Christi 1 @ Lone Star 4 – TJ Black made 23 saves and Alexey Solovyev scored twice as the Brahmas moved to within one point of 1st place in the South with a 4-1 home win over the IceRays. Ludvig Larsson scored in the 1st period to put the home side ahead early, 1-0. After a scoreless 2nd period, Lone Star took a 3-0 lead in the 3rd period with goals from AJ Vanderbeck and Solovyev. Corpus Christi cut into the lead with their lone tally, which came from Logan Gestro, but Solovyev would add an empty-netter. Andrew Lindgren made 21 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Fairbanks 2 @ Minot 5 – Christian Mohs scored twice as the Minotauros kept pace in the Central Division with a 5-2 home win over Fairbanks. Things started well for the Ice Dogs as Ryner Goroskwy, who scored both Ice Dogs goals on the night, opened the scoring. However, just :13 seconds later, Minot tied the game on Mohs’ first goal. Minot added two more goals in the 2nd period including one from Blake Lizotte and another from Mohs. Nick Monfils scored in the 3rd period to make it 4-1, before Gorowsky added his second to make it 4-2, but an empty-net goal from Johnny Walker secured the three-goal win. Atte Tolvanen made 31 saves in the win. Boxscore
Wenatchee 1 @ Wichita Falls 3 – Austin Shaw made 21 saves as the Wichita Falls Wildcats kept pace with the leaders in the South Division thanks to a 3-1 home win over the Wild. Wichita Falls recorded just 19 shots, but after a scoreless 1st period took a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period with goals from Jake Townsend and Austin Albrecht. Dan Bailey had the lone Wild goal of the game, which came on the power play in the 2nd period. Colin Staub added a goal midway through the 3rd period for insurance. Boxscore
Soo 3 @ Janesville 5 – Despite being outshot 36-18, the Jets managed five goals and ran their winning streak to 17 straight games with a 5-3 home win over the visiting Eagles. It was all Jets in the early going as 1st period goals from Zach LaValle and Kevin Dineen and 2nd period goals from Adam Winborg and Cullen Munson made the score 4-0 for the Jets early in the 2nd period. A goaltending change sparked the Eagles to their first goal from Pat Gazzillo, but the Jets would have an answer from Drew Callin to make it 5-1. Two late goals from Trevor Cope and Brad Pung made the final 5-3 in favor of Janesville, who got 33 saves in the win from Matt Jurusik. Boxscore
Keystone 2 @ Michigan 3 – Ryan Wischow made 39 saves to lead the Warriors to a big 3-2 win at home over Keystone. The win brought Michigan to within six points of the final playoff spot in the North. After a scoreless 1st period, Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period on a goal from Tyler Groat. That was answered by a goal from Taylor Fernandez for Keystone. Michigan then got two goals, including the game-winner from Alex Berardinelli in the 3rd period. Vito Aluia cut the lead to 3-2 with a late 3rd period goal, but Keystone could not find the equalizer. Alex Blankenbrug made 27 saves in the loss. Boxscore
