Saturday Scores: Plenty of sweeps as playoff picture takes shape
Samuel Ruffin scored the overtime-winner to give the Fairbanks Ice Dogs a three-game sweep of the Janesville Jets and also secure the Midwest Division regular season title.
MN Wilderness 6 @ Bismarck 2 - The Minnesota Wilderness are just a few points away from a playoff spot after their 6-2 win over the Bismarck Bobcats. Gino Lucia led all skaters with three points. Isaac Moberg had a pair of goals for Wilderness as well. Andrew Troy, Tyler Watkins, and Ryan Nelson all scored for Minnesota in the win. Jacob Sibell got the win in between the pipes as he made 29 saves. For the Bobcats, Mitchell Walinski and Alex Trombley found twine. John Roberts took the loss in goal as he made 27 saves.
Janesville 2 @ Fairbanks 3 (OT) - Sam Ruffin’s goal at 1:18 of overtime completed the sweep for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs as they defeated divisional rival Janesville 3-2. The win secured the Midwest Division regular season title and #1 seed for the Ice Dogs for the Robertson Cup Playoffs. Robert Blueger and Caleb Hite also scored for Fairbanks in the win. Josh Benson made 22 saves to pick up his 26th win of the season. Branden MacLaren and Matt Barbolini netted goals for the Jets while Daniel Lebedeff made 19 saves for Janesville.
Odessa 2 @ Shreveport 3 - Ryan Burnett scored two goals and added a helper to lead the Mudbugs over the Odessa Jackalopes by a score of 3-2. Cole Quisenberry had a goal and an assist while Jaxon Castor made 30 saves. Odessa received goals from Ricky Carballo and Petr Miko. Brett Epp made 34 saves in the loss. The Jackalopes clinched a playoff spot despite the loss thanks to a loss by Amarillo.
Austin 1 @ Minot 2 - Make it five wins in a row for the Minot Minotauros as they take down the Austin Bruins 2-1. Jake Rosenbaum and Miroslav Mucha were able to score for the Minotauros. Nick Grabko made 30 saves for the win in goal. Dante Sheriff scored the only goal for Austin while Alex Schilling made 31 saves. Despite the loss, the Bruins clinched a spot in the Robertson Cup playoffs.
Coulee Region 1 @ MN Magicians 5 - Carter Wagner found the back of the net twice as the Minnesota Magicians took down the Coulee Region Chill 5-1. Carter Breitenfeldt, Bram Scheerer, and Chris Konin took trips to the red light district as well. Isaiah Saville allowed just one goal on 36 Coulee shots. Jackson Decker scored for the Chill and Emil Zetterquist made 26 saves.
Topeka 1 @ Lone Star 7 - Austin Bottrell’s two goals and two assists led the offensive onslaught for the Lone Star Brahmas. Justin Addamo also had four points, one goal and three assists. Trevor Zenas, Jon Russell, Steven Ipri, and Kimball Johnson all found the back of the net as well for the Brahmas. Harrison Feeney had light night, only needing to make 12 saves to pick up the win. Branden Rons scored for Topeka in the loss.
Springfield 2 @ Kenai River 1 - The Jr. Blues are leaving Alaska after a three game sweep of the Kenai River Brown Bears as they win Saturday night’s contest 2-1. Giovanni Carabelli and Brandon Puricelli were the goal scorers for Springfield. Evan Fear earned the victory in goal as he made 32 saves. Zach Krajnik scored the lone goal for Kenai River and Gavin Enright made 28 saves in the loss.
Brookings 1 @ Aberdeen 2 (SO) - Jonathan Bendorf scored the game deciding goal in the shootout to lift the Aberdeen Wings to a 2-1 shootout victory over the Brookings Blizzard. Zach Noble scored the only goal in regulation for Aberdeen and Gabe Vinal made 25 saves to pick up his 17th win of the season. Brock Draeger scored the lone goal for Brookings in the loss while Adam Brizgala made 40 saves for the Blizzard.
Northeast 3 @ Johnstown 2 - The Northeast Generals are closing in on their first playoff berth in team history as they knocked off the Johnstown Tomahawks 3-2. Justin Jallen had a goal and an assist for the Generals while Mike Egan and Matt Demelis also scored for Northeast. David Fessenden earned the win in goal by making 28 saves. Andy Nedeljkovic and Andrew Andary scored for the Tomahawks. Jack Leavy was dealt the loss as he made 27 saves.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7 @ New Jersey 6 - It was a back-and-forth affair between the Knights and the Titans as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton pulled out a 7-6 victory. Both teams clinched a playoff spot thanks to Johnstown’s loss. Matt Kidney scored a pair of goals and added an assist. Michael Morrissey had a goal and an assist. Adrian Danchenko, Jack Olmstead, Tyrone Bronte, and Gabe Temple all scored in the Knights win. Tate Singleton had a hat trick and an assist in the loss for New Jersey. Matthew Cameron and Hunter Alden each had a goal and an assist while Kyle Jeffers had a goal as well.
Amarillo 1 @ Corpus Christi 4 - Brendan Miller’s goal and an assist helped propel the Corpus Christi IceRays to a 4-1 victory over the Amarillo Bulls. Grayson Gavin, Garrett Hallford and Trevor Wilhelm all lit the lamp for Corpus Christi in the win. Chad Veltri stifled Amarillo as he turned aside 32 shots. Stephen Rex scored for Amarillo and Jason Grande made 26 saves.
