Friday Finals: Ice Dogs extend streak with shootout win
Zach Heintz had three points and six different players scored for the Odessa Jackalopes in a 6-2 home win over the Corpus Christi IceRays on Friday night.
Fairbanks 2 @ Janesville 1 (SO) – The Fairbanks Ice Dogs extended their winning streak to 14 straight games as they outlasted Janesville in a shootout on Friday, 2-1. The win have the Ice Dogs a 12 points lead in the division over the 2nd place Jets. After a scoreless 1st period, the Ice Dogs went ahead 1-0 in the 2nd period with a goal from Luke Orysiuk. The Jets were able to respond late in the 3rd period as Kip Hoffman equalized with just :11 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game 1-1. In the shootout, Hunter Wendt and Jax Murray scored for the Ice Dogs to secure the extra point. Ice Dogs goalie Josh Benson made 17 saves in the win, while Jets goalie Daniel Lebedeff made 30 saves in the shootout loss.
Johnstown 2 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1 – Tomahawks goalie Kade Phipps made 30 saves to the lead the Tomahawks to an important 2-1 road win in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Johnstown got off to a fast start thanks to two goals in the 1st period from Pavel Kharin and Roman Kraemer. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Tomahawks and Phipps held firm almost the entire length of the 3rd period. Phipps’ shutout bid was spoiled with just :29 seconds remaining in the regulation as Knights forward Jack Olmstead scored his 18th goal of the season. Knights goalie David Tomeo made 39 saves in the losing effort.
Corpus Christi 2 @ Odessa 6 – Zach Heintz had three points and six different players scored for the Jackalopes in a 6-2 home win over the IceRays. Odessa jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to 1st period goals from Jared Christy and Peyton Frantii, and a goal early in the 2nd period from Ricky Carballo. Corpus Christi scored their first goal midway through the 2nd period from Jayson Dimizio to make the score 3-1, but Odessa had an answer thanks to Matt Brown’s 8th goal of the season to make it 4-1. The Jacks scored two more goals in the 3rd period with tallies from Viktor Johansson and Heintz to complete the scoring. Dakota Concannon had the other goal for the IceRays. Alex Camarre made 26 saves in the win, while Jake Acton made 35 saves in the loss.
Philadelphia 2 @ New Jersey 1 – Ryan Keane made 20 saves to lead the Rebels to a close 2-1 road win in New Jersey on Friday. The win gave the Rebels a 9-point lead in the East Division. The Rebels were propelled by a strong start, scoring two goals in the 1st period from Brandon Stanley and Adam Peck. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Titans closed the gap in the 3rd period with their lone goal from Spencer Stanley, but that would be all the Rebels and Keane would allow to secure the two points. New Jersey goalie Brandon Perrone made 19 saves in the loss.
Kenai River 4 @ Coulee Region 5 – The Chill snapped their losing skid thanks to goals from five different players in a 5-4 home win over the Brown Bears. The Chill got two goals in the 1st period from Matus Havrila and Andrew McGlynn, two goals in the 2nd period from Gavin Holland and Jackson Decker and the game-winning goal in the 3rd period from Collin Price. The Brown Bears, who had three one-goal leads, got 1st period goals from Alex Klekotka and Gil Garcia, a 2nd period goal from Carter Wade and a 3rd period goal from Markuss Komuls. Chill goaltender Emil Zetterquist made 40 saves in the win, while Brown Bears goalie Gavin Enright made 34 saves in the loss.
Bismarck 3 @ Austin 1 – A fast start and 28 saves from John Roberts led the Bobcats to a 3-1 road win in Austin on Friday night. The return of forward Mitch Walinski paid immediate dividends as the veteran forward starting the scoring in the 1st period to put Bismarck ahead 1-0. A goal from Jacob Marti late in the 1st period made the score 2-0. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Bruins finally found the back of the net midway through the 3rd period as Travis Kothenbeutel scored his 17th goal of the season, but another goal from Walinkski late in regulation secured the win. Bruins goalie Alex Schilling made 24 saves in the loss.
Minot 2 @ Brookings 1 – Minot goalie Samu Lonkila made 26 saves to lead the Minotauros to an important 2-1 road win in Brookings on Friday night. After a scoreless 1st period, the Minotauros scored the game’s first goal as Colby Enns scored his 8th goal of the season just :47 seconds into the 2nd period. Brookings had an answer late in the 2nd period as they got their lone goal from Connor Koviak. The game-winner came with less than four minutes to go in regulation as Sam Fuss scored his second goal of the season. Blizzard goalie Adam Brizgala made 19 saves in the loss.
Aberdeen 5 @ MN Wilderness 2 – The Wings widened their lead in the Central Division thanks to a convincing 5-2 win on Friday in Cloquet against the Wilderness. Five different players scored for the Wings, which included a 1st period goal from Evan Rochowiak, a 2nd period goal from Jonathan Bendorf and three goals in the 3rd period from Evan Spencer, Colton Fletcher, and Nathan Burke. The Wilderness got goals from Nick Altmann and Nicholas Michel. Wings goalie Matt Vernon made 16 saves in the win, while Wilderness goalie Ryan Fanti made 32 saves in the loss.
Amarillo 1 @ Shreveport 4 – Mudbugs goalie Gustavs Grigals made 23 saves to lead his club to a 4-1 home win over the Bulls. After a scoreless 1st period, the Mudbugs jumped ahead 2-0 in the 2nd period with goals from Roberts Baranovskis and Jay Feiwell. Early in the 3rd period, the Bulls drew to within 2-1 on a goal from Trey Bagwell, but the Mudbugs would add two more later in the 3rd period from Jacob Holmers and Cameron Cook to secure the 4-1 win. Bulls goalie Jason Grande played well in the loss, making 53 saves.
