Fairbanks, Minot advance to Division Finals with sweeps

April 20, 2019

Midwest Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Fairbanks 4 @ Janesville 1 (Fairbanks wins series, 3-0) – Parker Brown had a goal and an assist and goaltender Mattias Sholl made 19 saves as the Ice Dogs picked up a 4-1 road win in Janesville in Game 3 to complete the series sweep with the Jets. The game was tied at 1-1 after one period as Matt Koethe scored for Fairbanks and Brenden Olson answered for the Jets. Fairbanks took control in the 2nd period as Luke Ciolli and Jonathan Sorenson scored to make it 3-1. Brown then added an empty-net to make it a 4-1 final and send the Ice Dogs to the Midwest Division Final. Jets goalie Cole Brady made 28 saves in the loss.

 

Central Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Minot 3 @ Bismarck 2 (Minot wins series, 3-0) – Taylor Lantz scored with just :20 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Minotauros a 3-2 win in Game 3, completing a series sweep of the Bobcats. Minot struck first in the opening period as Sam Skinner scored his first goal of the series. Jacob Marti answered back for the Bobcats in the 2nd period to make it 1-1. Minot took a 2-1 lead late in the 3rd period as Didrik Henbrandt scored with less than three minutes remaining. With an extra-attacker, Bismarck scored the game-tying goal from Adam Stacho and the game appeared it was headed to overtime, but just :13 seconds later, Lantz potted home the game-winner. Minot goalie Nick Grabko made 23 saves in the win, while John Roberts made 23 saves in the loss.

East Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Jamestown 0 @ New Jersey 2 (Jamestown leads series, 2-1) – Titans goalie Brandon Perrone made 37 saves in a Game 3 shutout to help the Titans stay alive in the series thanks to a 2-0 win. New Jersey got the scoring started early as Kyle Jeffers lit the lamp early in the 1st period on the power play with what would be the eventual game-winning goal. New Jersey got an insurance goal midway through the 3rd period from Chris Garbe to secure the 2-0 win. Rebels goalie Ryan Keane made 26 saves in the loss.

 

Midwest Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: MN Magicians 5 @ Springfield 0 (Magicians lead series, 2-1) – Magicians goalie Ethan Haider stopped all 28 shots that came his way to help his team take a 2-1 series lead thanks to a 5-0 shutout in Springfield on Friday in Game 3. Five different players scored for Minnesota, which included three goals in the 1st period from Cameron Buhl, Ricky Lyle Jr., and Chris Konin. John Keranen added a goal in the 2nd period to make it a 4-0 game and Ben Schultheis added a goal late in the 3rd period to make it a 5-0 final. Jack Williams made 30 saves in the loss for the Jr. Blues.

 

South Division Semi-Finals, Game 4: Amarillo 5 @ Corpus Christi 2 (Series tied 2-2) – The Bulls tied up the series and forced a Game 5 in Amarillo on Monday thanks to a convincing 5-2 win in Game 4 on Friday. The Bulls jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to 1st period goals from Jason Brancheau and Gabriel Seger, and 2nd period goals from Alex Peterson and Matt Allen. The IceRays managed to cut into the lead with goals from Nicholas Seitz and Blake Bennett, but another goal from Allen late in the 3rd period secured the 5-2 win. Bulls goalie Jason Grande made 23 saves in the win, while IceRays goalie Brian George made 31 saves in the loss.

 

South Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Lone Star 1 @ Shreveport 0 (Lone Star leads series, 2-1) – Brahmas goalie Seth Eisele stopped all 28 shots that came his way to lead the Brahmas to a 1-0 road win in Shreveport in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. The only goal of the game was scored late in the 2nd period as Andrew DeCarlo netted his second goal of the series. That would be all the goals that Lone Star and Eisele would need in the win. Mudbugs goalie Leo Chuard made 29 saves in the loss.

 

Central Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Aberdeen 2 @ Austin 4 (Aberdeen leads series, 2-1) – Two goals late in the 3rd period from Austin forward Dante Zapata helped the Bruins pick up their first win of the series thanks to a 4-2 win in Game 3 on Friday. Austin had two separate one-goal leads throughout the game thanks to goals from Ben Almquist and Jed Pietila, but those leads were erased by goals from Aberdeen’s Jonathan Bendorf and Adam Pitters. Zapata would then add his two goals just 1:35 apart from one another late in the 3rd period to secure the win. Kyle McClellan made 22 saves in the win and Matt Vernon made 16 saves in the loss.