Saturday Scores: Ice Dogs, Brahmas, Wings have 2-0 leads
Anton Castro has backstopped Aberdeen to road wins in Games 1 and 2 in Austin and are now just one win away from the Central Finals.
Midwest Division Semi Finals, Game 2: Minnesota 1 @ Fairbanks 7 (Fairbanks leads series, 2-0) - The Fairbanks Ice Dogs took a commanding two games to none series lead as they dominated the Minnesota Wilderness 7-1. Kevin Marx Noren, Tristan Sarsland and Jake Hale all lit the lamp in the opening period to get the Ice Dogs out to a 3-0 lead. The Ice Dogs broke the game wide open in the second period as they tallied four goals in a span of 3:30. Jack Ring potted a pair of goals while Billy Renfrew and Braden Lindstrom also scored. Gunnar Thoreson spoiled the shutout bid with a goal late in the third. Kayden Hargraves picked up the win in between the pipes as he made 37 saves. Matthew Smith and Konrad Kausch combined to make 24 stops for the Wilderness.
Central Division Semi Finals, Game 2: Aberdeen 3 @ Austin 2 (Aberdeen leads series, 2-0) - Anton Castro stopped 33 of 35 shots faced in a stellar performance to lift the Wings past Austin in consecutive games. Landry Schmuck opened the scoring with a power play goal for the Wings in the 1st. The two teams traded goals in the 2nd as Jens Richards and Carson Riddle scored for the Bruins while Ronan Walsh and Owen Dubois scored for Aberdeen. Neither team would score in the 3rd as the Wings held on for the 3-2 win. Klayton Knapp made 20 saves for Austin.
South Division Semi Finals, Game 2: Shreveport 2 @ Lone Star 3 (Lone Star leads series, 2-0) - The Brahmas fired off three 1st period goals to take a big lead early and defeat Shreveport in game two. Tanner Daniels scored just 1:08 into the game to give Lone Star a quick lead. Lukas Sedlacek scored seven minutes later for Shreveport but Artur Turansky and Bauer Swift would add more Brahmas goals before the intermission, Swift’s coming on the power play. Timofei Khokhlachnev found a power play goal for the visitors late in the 2nd period but Arthur Smith would stop all of the remaining shots to secure the victory. Smith completed the night making 15 saves. Devon Bobak kept out 11 of 14 shots that came at him for Shreveport.
East Division Semi Finals, Game 2: Jamestown 1 @ Johnstown 3 (Series tied, 1-1) - Braedon Ford scored a pair of goals to help the Tomahawks take game two and even the series at one game a piece. Ford scored his first of the game just seven minutes into the 1st period. Jak Vaarwek evened the scores with a goal late in the period for Jamestown. . After a goalless middle frame, Ford found his second of the game early in the 3rd to retake the lead. Jake Black lit the lamp later in the period to double the lead and help seal the victory. Matthew O'Donnell completed the victory making 13 saves. Nolan Suggs made 29 saves in the loss.
East Division Semi Finals, Game 2: Northeast 2 @ New Jersey 6 (Series tied, 1-1) - The Titans scored goals in all three periods in their dominant game two victory to even the series against Northeast. Anthony Mollica scored the only goal of the 1st period to give New Jersey a lead through one period. Ryan Coughlin, Nick Ring, and Anthony Calafiore all scored in the 2nd period to continue their offense. Northeast fought back as Joe Schubert and Nick Ramm each found the back of the net. Ring and Reece Brednich widened the gap with goals in the final frame. Andrew Takacs kept out 27 of 29 shots faced in the win. Cullen DeYoung made 33 stops for the Generals.
Central Division Semi Finals, Game 2: Bismarck 2 @ St. Cloud 1 (2OT) (Series tied, 1-1) - Ben Troumbly scored 14:06 into double overtime to lift the Bobcats past St. Cloud in spectacular fashion and tie the series. Michael Neumeier scored first in the game for Bismarck with assists from Troumbly and Chase Beacom. After a scoreless 2nd period, Max Strand lit the lamp 6:39 into the 3rd to tie the game with Leo Gruba and Ryan O’Neill grabbing the helpers. Oskars Spinnars Nordin had an outstanding performance in net, completing the win with 59 saves. Tomas Bolo was delivered the loss in double overtime with 47 saves.
South Division Semi Finals, Game 2: Wichita Falls 1 @ New Mexico 2 (Series tied, 1-1) - The New Mexico Ice Wolves won their first ever Robertson Cup playoff game as they outlasted the Wichita Falls Warriors 2-1. Cade Lemmer opened the scoring for the Warriors with a power play tally less than two minutes into the middle frame. Nicloas Haviar countered with his own power play goal midway through the period. 15 seconds into the third period, it was Sully Scholle scoring his first playoff goal to give New Mexico their first lead of the night. Beni Halasz would go on to stop 26 of 27 to earn the win and even the series. Brandon Milberg and Daniel Duris teamed up to make 28 saves.
