Friday Finals: Wildcats, Tomahawks, Ice Dogs, Rebels advance | North American Hockey League | NAHL
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Friday Finals: Wildcats, Tomahawks, Ice Dogs, Rebels advance

April 23, 2016

Logan Hudson netted the overtime-winning goal as Johnstown swept New Jersey to advance to the East Division Finals where they will meet the Aston Rebels.

South Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Wichita Falls 6 @ Odessa 3 (Wichita Falls wins series, 3-0) – Austin Albrecht had a hat-trick and Austin Beaulieu scored twice as the Wildcats completed a series sweep of the Jackalopes, ending Odessa’s season with a 6-3 win in Game 3 and advancing to the South Finals. It was all Wildcats in the 1st period, as Beaulieu, Albrecht and Adam Goodsir scored three goals in a 10-minute span to take a 3-0 lead.  The lead increased to 4-0 early in the 2nd period with another goal from Beaulieu. The Jackalopes finally got on the board with a goal from Hampus Sjodahl, his first of the series. Albrecht added his second goal before the period was over to put the Wildcats ahead 5-1. Odessa made a comeback attempt in the 3rd period with goals from Gray Marr and Jake Levin, but an empty-net goal from Albrecht secured the series win. Justin Kapelmaster made 30 saves in the win, while Jon Flakne made 34 saves in the loss. Boxscore

East Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Aston 6 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 (Aston wins series, 3-0) – Darion Hanson made 33 saves and Andrew Bellant scored twice as the Rebels defeated the Knights in convincing 6-1 fashion in Game 3, completing a sweep of the Semi-Final series. The Rebels advance to the East Division Finals with the win. After a scoreless 1st period, the Rebels came alive in the 2nd period with three straight goals from Bellant, Frank Spellman and Austin Swingle. The Knights got their only goal from Braden Brown to cut the lead to 3-1, but it was all Rebels after that as Bellant scored again before the 2nd period was done to make the score 4-1.  In the 3rd period Dean Balsamo and Ryan Solomon scored two complete the 6-1 win. Grant Valentine made 31 saves in the Knights loss. Boxscore

East Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: New Jersey 1 @ Johnstown 2 (OT) (Johnstown wins series, 3-0) - The Tomahawks came back front a 1-0 deficit late in the third period to defeat and sweep the New Jersey Titans, advancing to the East Finals. The Tomahawks and the Titans traded shots and quality scoring chances but Johnstown net minder Andrew Lindgren and New Jersey goalie Jack Berry halted all pucks as both teams went into the first intermission. Raymond Brice broke the scoreless tie in the waning moments of the second period with his second goal of the series. The Tomahawks peppered Berry with shots in the third period, trying to even the contest. Johnstown’s hard work paid off when Anthony Parrucci slid a puck behind Berry with 19 seconds remaining in the final period to force overtime. Logan Hudson closed out the game and the series, taking the rebound from a Kelly O’Brien shot and firing it into the open net 3:58 into the extra period. Lindgren earned his third win of the series, stopping 22 of 23 shots. Berry suffered the loss, allowing two goals on 34 shots. Boxscore

Midwest Division Semi-Finals, Game 4: Fairbanks 4 @ Coulee Region 1 (Fairbanks wins series, 3-1) – Gavin Nieto made 19 saves and four different players scored for the Ice Dogs as Fairbanks advanced to the Midwest Division Finals with a 4-1 win in Coulee Region, as the Chill’s season and era under AJ Degenhardt came to a close. The teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after the 1st period as Josef Ingman scored for Fairbanks and Larry Jungwirth answered for the Chill. The Ice Dogs took the lead for good in the 2nd period on a goal from Ryner Gorowsky, his 4th goal of the series. The Ice Dogs got two insurance goals in the 3rd period on tallies from Jakob Stridsberg and Clay Cross. Matiss Kivlenieks made 27 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Central Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Minot 3 @ Austin 6 (Austin leads best of 5 series, 2-1) – The Bruins moved to within one win of moving onto the Central Finals thanks to a two goals from Gilbert Gabor and three points from Jade Miller in a 6-3 win at home in Game 3 over the Minotauros. Minot scored six goals on just 16 shots in the game. Minot scored the game’s first goal thanks to Nate Pionk, but the Bruins were quick to tie things on Gabor’s first of the night. Minot would again take a lead, this time early in the 2nd period on a goal from Chase Springman, but the Bruins would answer with three straight to take a 4-2 lead, which included another goal from Gabor and others from Austin Rueschhoff and Miller. A goal from Minot defenseman James LaDouce cut the lead to 4-3 late in the game, but empty-net goals from Luke Forfar and Evan Cholak secured the win for Austin. Kris Carlson made 29 saves in the win, while Gunner Rivers had 10 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Central Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Bismarck 1 @ Brookings 2 (Bismarck leads best of 5 series, 2-1) – The Blizzard staved off elimination on Friday thanks to a 2-1 win at home in Game 3, which extended the series to a 4th game, which will be in Brookings on Saturday night. Griff Jeszka had both goals for the Blizzard. After a scoreless 1st period, the Blizzard got on the board first early in the 2nd period as Jeszka lit the lamp with assists to Chase Gamelin and Nick Ford. The Bobcats tied the game later in the period thanks to a power play goal from Harrison Aide. The eventual game-winner came midway through the 3rd period again from Jeszka, as Gamelin and Ford assisted again. Josh Kuehmichel made 22 saves in the win, while Hunter Shepard made 27 saves in the loss. Boxscore

South Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Lone Star 2 @ Topeka 5 (Topeka leads best of 5 series, 2-1) – Five different players scored for the RoadRunners as Juho Niku made 23 saves as Topeka moved to within one win of the South Finals thanks to a 5-2 win in Game 3 over the Brahmas. Topeka jumped out to a 3-0 lead, which is all they would need for the win thanks to two 1st period goals from Quinn Preston and Yu Hikosaka and a power play goal early in the 2nd period from Ryan O’Connor. The Brahmas made a game of things thanks to two late goals in the 2nd period from Peter Kessel and Tyler Drevitch. However, Topeka would put the game out of reach thanks to two more goals in the 3rd period from Johnny Walker and JB Baker. Corbin Kaczperski made 13 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Midwest Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Janesville 1 @ MN Wilderness 2 (2OT) (MN Wilderness lead best of 5 series, 2-1) – Isak Bergland 13:28 into the 2nd overtime to give the Minnesota Wilderness a 2-1 win and put them to within one game of moving onto the Midwest Division Finals. The game was tight throughout, but it was the Jets who grabbed a 1-0 lead early in the 1st period as Adam Winborg scored with assists to Adrian Holesinsky and Taylor Fernandez. The Wilderness tied the game at 1-1 in the 2nd period with a goal from Alex Toscano. The Wilderness outshot the Jets 43-24 in the game, but both goalies held strong through the 1st overtime. Late in the 2nd overtime a break up the ice by Jack Forbort got the puck to Bergland, who slipped a shot over the shoulder of Jack LaFontaine while he was falling to the ice for the game-winner. Luke Kania made 23 saves in the win, while LaFontaine made 41 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 
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