Friday Finals: OT win moves Jackalopes into playoff position
Odessa 3 @ Corpus Christi 2 (OT) – Derek Brown scored just :17 seconds into overtime to lift Odessa to a 3-2 win in Corpus Christi. The win moved the Jacks into a tie with the IceRays for the 4th and final playoff spot in the South. Odessa jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st period with a goal from Hampus Sjodahl. The IceRays tied the game early in the 2nd period with a goal from Brendan Miller. Odessa took the lead back later in the period with a power play goal from Daniel Kiraly. In the 3rd period, an early power play goal from Regen Cavanagh tied the game at 2-2. Brown’s OT-winner featured some slick stickhandling as he slid a shot underneath IceRays goalie Grahmas Hunt. Hunt ended with 33 saves in the loss, while Jon Flakne picked up the win, making 36 saves. Boxscore
Aberdeen 0 @ Bismarck 1 – In a battle of two of the best goalies in the NAHL this season, it was Bismarck’s Hunter Shepard outlasting Aberdeen’s Peter Thome as Bismarck blanked the Wings, 1-0. A late 1st period goal from Oskars Batna proved to be the difference, which featured assists from Jared Pike and Patrik Demel. The shutout was Shepard’s 6th of the season, which tied him for the league lead. Shepard stopped all 22 shots in the win, while Thome made 30 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Minot 6 @ Brookings 3 – Four 3rd period goals helped the Minotauros keep pace with the Bobcats atop the Central Division with a 6-3 win in Brookings on Friday. Steven Mather and Max Reisinger each scored twice for Minot. Brookings led 2-1 after one period thanks to goals from Chase Gamelin and Parker Revering, while Mather scored the opening two goals for Minot as the game was tied at 2-2 after two periods. In the 3rd period, Reisinger added both of his goals and Derek Frentz and Chase Springman also scored for Minot. Colton Schmidt had the other Brookings goal. Lucas Murray made 26 saves in the win. Boxscore
Topeka 2 @ Lone Star 3 – Two, 3rd period goals were the difference as the Brahmas edged the RoadRunners on Friday, 3-2. Topeka opened the scoring in the 1st period with a goal from Quinn Preston. Lone Star tied things up in the 2nd period with a goal from Martin Mellberg. The Brahmas took their first lead of the game midway through the 3rd period as Tomas Brejcha scored, but Topeka would answer on a goal from Sami Tavernier. With five minutes to go in regulation, Brahmas leading scorer Alex Berardinelli netted the game-winner. Corbin Kaczperski made 18 saves in the win, while Juho Niku made 28 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Coulee Region 4 @ MN Wilderness 1 – Hunter Vorva shined in goal for the Chill, making 41 saves in a 4-1 win on the road against the Wilderness on Friday. The Chill opened up a 2-0 lead in the 1st period, which included goals from Matt Doran and Kevin Dineen. The Wilderness cut into the lead to make it 2-1 with a late goal in the 2nd period from Isak Bergland. Coulee Region put the game away in the 3rd period with two late goals from Isaac Theisen on the power play and an empty-netter from Justin Kendall. Chase Munroe made 17 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Springfield 1 @ Fairbanks 2 (OT) – It was a tight defensive game in Fairbanks as the Ice Dogs edged out the Jr. Blues in overtime, 2-1. After a goaltender’s duel in the first two periods, which saw neither team score, the Jr. Blues took a 1-0 lead early in the 3rd period with a tally from Nathan Viberg. Fairbanks equalized six minutes later as Clay Cross found the back of the net. The overtime-winner came with 1:46 to go in the extra frame as Todd Burgess collected his own rebound and lifted a shot over the shoulder of Jr. Blues goalie Niko Della Maggorie for the winner. Della Maggorie made 35 saves in the loss, while CJ Boothe made 20 saves in the win. Boxscore
Janesville 4 @ Kenai River 1 – Jack LaFontaine made 27 saves and Taylor Fernandez had a big game to help the Jets to a 4-1 road win in Kenai River, handing the Brown Bears their 11th straight loss. Janesville led 2-0 after a 1st period goal from Cullen Munson and a 2nd period goal from Fernandez. The Brown Bears lone goal came late in the 2nd period from Joey Sardina. In the 3rd period goals from Michael Maloney and another from Fernandez secured the win for the Jets. Brown Bears goals Magnus Lindhe made 23 saves in the loss. Boxscore
MN Magicians 2 @ Austin 6 – Gilbert Gabor and Justin Misiak each scored twice to lead the Bruins to a 6-2 home win over the visiting Magicians. The Magicians led 1-0 after the 1st period thanks to a goal from Casey Jerry. The Bruins responded with three goals in the 2nd period, including the first from both Gabor and Misiak and the eventual game-winner from Luke Notermann, who scored his first career NAHL goal in his first career game. The Magicians got a goal from Michael Wilson before the period was done to draw to within 3-2. In the 3rd period, Gabor and Misiak added their second goals and Travis Kothenbeutel also scored. Austin goalie Kris Carlson made 15 saves in the win. Boxscore
Amarillo 3 @ Wichita Falls 5 – The Wildcats jumped out a 3-0 lead and held off an Amarillo comeback for a 5-3 win over the visiting Bulls. Wichita Falls built up a 3-0 lead halfway through the game with goals from Nikita Litviak, Garrett VanWyhe and Trent Dillinger. Amarillo cut the lead to 3-2 with goals from George Mika and Coale Norris, but two more goals from Austin Beaulieu and Andre Pison put the game on ice for Wichita Falls. Joey Molinaro had the other Bulls goal. Julian Sime made 23 saves in the win, while Brian Baker made 32 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Aston 5 @ Johnstown 1 – Four, 2nd period goals led the Rebels to a 5-1 road win in Johnstown on Friday. The Tomahawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st period with a power play goal from Dante Suffredini. The Rebels responded with four goals in a 13-minute span as Eric Carreras, Ryan Cusin, Dean Balsamo and Kristofers Bindulis all scored. In the 3rd period, Gvido Jansons added Aston’s 5th goals. Rebels goalie Darion Hanson made 28 saves in the win, while Ryan Glander took the loss for Johnstown. Boxscore
New Jersey 2 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4 – Grant Valentine made 42 saves to lead the Knights to a 4-2 win over the 1st place Titans. After a scoreless 1st period, the Knight took a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period with goals from Carson Knop and Braden Brown. The Knights added two more goals in the 3rd period from Tanner Bennett and Jacob Hamacher to secure the win. Keegan Miller and Andrew Durham had the goals for New Jersey in the loss. Spencer Wright made 28 saves in the loss. Boxscore
