Saturday Scores: Warriors thinking playoffs after weekend sweep

Michigan 3 @ Jamestown 2 (OT) - John Smith and Ryan Urso scored third period goals to help Jamestown earn a point, but another slipped away as they fell 3-2 in overtime against the Michigan Warriors.  The teams traded chances in the early part of the first period and Michigan eventually capitalized on a bouncing puck on the side of the Ironmen net. James Kline managed to get his stick on the puck and it bounced off Ironmen goalie Joey Ballmer to give the Warriors a 1-0 lead near the midway part of the first period.  Jamestown had a couple of chances late in the period including what appeared to be a sure goal by Nick Bingaman. Bingaman appeared to have Warriors goalie Brach Tiller beat with a backhand but Tiller stretched his leg out and made the save.  Michigan extended their lead in the second period on a goal by Brad Pizzey. Pizzey was parked in front of the Jamestown net and received a nice pass from Joseph Ferriss to give the Warriors a two goal lead.  The game remained 2-0 until near the midway point of the third period when Jon Smith scored his fourth of the season. Bryan Watt stole the puck along the boards and fed a pass to Smith who had an open net to cut the lead in half.  Jamestown tied the score just minutes later as Ryan Urso deflected a shot from Watt that beat an unsuspecting Tiller. Tiller seemed to have an easy save on the Watt shot until it deflected off of Urso’s stick for his first NAHL goal.  Both teams had chances in the overtime but Chris Eckler scored the winner on a screen shot from the left point that found the back of the net.  The loss puts Jamestown 10 points behind Michigan for the final playoff spot in the North Division. Boxscore

Corpus Christi 1 @ Odessa 2 (SO) – In a classic goaltending duel between the IceRays Anthony Stolarz and the Jackalopes Connore Hellebuyck, it was Hellebuyck who made 29 saves and stopped all five ‘Rays shooters to help Odessa pick up the shootout win and edge closer to Corpus Christi in the standings.  Stolarz was equally as good, stopping 43 shots in regulation.  Eric Purcell scored in regulation for Corpus Christi and Taylor Portner in regulation for Odessa.  Tyler Cayemberg scored the only goal in the shootout for either team. Boxscore

Alexandria 1 @ Bismarck 6 – The Bobcats edged closer to a division title with a convincing 6-1 win over 2nd place Alexandria Saturday night.  Defenseman Donald Olivieri scored twice and John Furgele added three assists in the win.  Bismarck jumped out to a 5-0 lead, chasing Jacob Meyers from the Blizzard net.  Goals came from Bryce Anderson, Bryce Schmitt, Danny Ray, Tyler Richter and Olivier before Matt Youso scored the only Blizzard goal.  Olivieri added his second of the game late in the 3rd period. Boxscore

Springfield 3 @ Chicago 2 (SO) – Gabe Antoni made 22 saves and stopped all three shooters in the shootout as Springfield picked up another win over Chicago.  Ben Kramer and Cody Dixon scored for Springfield in regulation and Kevin Walters, Kyle Cook and Stewart Bell all scored in the shootout.  Mike Fazio and Matt Cessna scored in regulation for the Hitmen.  Chicago’s Ryan Coyne was solid in the Chicago loss, making 37 saves. Boxscore

Fresno 1 @ Wenatchee 4 – The Wild dominated from start to finish outshooting the Monsters 43-17 and defeating Fresno, 4-1.  Defenseman Michael Lant scored the first two goals of the game for the Wild, which both came on the power play.  Blake Roubos made it 3-0 for Wenatchee, scoring the Wild’s 3rd power play goal of the game.  Ryan Doner answered back for Fresno midway through the 3rd period, but Jacob Barber added an empty-net goal to secure the win. Boxscore

Alaska 3 @ Kenai River 4 – The Brown Bears picked up a big weekend sweep of the Avalanche with a 4-3 win on Saturday.  The win moved Kenai River four points clear of Fresno for the 4th and final playoff spot, while the loss moved Alaska back into 3rd place, one point behind Wenatchee.  Brett Lubankski, Sean Muller, Zac Lazzaro and Ryan Walker scored for the Brown Bears, while Wehebe Darge, Mitch Kontny and Evan Janssen scored for Alaska. Boxscore

Fairbanks 2 @ Dawson Creek 1 – Gabe Levin’s goal midway through the 3rd period was the difference as the 1st place Ice Dogs picked up a weekend road sweep of a pesky Rage team by a 2-1 score on Saturday night.  Rudy Sulmonte scored the opening goal for Fairbanks.  That was answered by Dawson Creek in the 2nd period with a goal from Austin Adduono.  Paul Bourbeau made 40 saves in the loss, while Alex Fons made 23 saves in the win. Boxscore

Aberdeen 6 @ Minot 0 – Reid Mimmack stopped all 25 shots and Joe Sullivan had a three point game as Aberdeen shutout Minot, 6-0.  The Wings led 1-0 after the 1st period thanks to a shorthanded goal from Cory Ward.  Paul Prescott and Tyler Dunagan scored in the 2nd period to make it 3-0.  Tyler Hanzlik, Cullen Hurley and Sullivan scored in the 3rd period to give Aberdeen a perfect record over the weekend. Boxscore

Texas 1 @ Topeka 4 – Alex Larson allowed just a goal for the second straight game as Topeka avoided a weekend sweep and beat Texas, 4-1.  The win snapped a four-game slide for Topeka.  Taylor Herndon scored first for the second straight game, but that would be all the offense Texas could muster as the RoadRunners held them to just 21 shots.  Sean Gaffney, Richard Young, Kevin Patterson and Ryan White scored for Topeka in the win. Boxscore

Coulee Region 1 @ Austin 4 – The Bruins picked up a weekend sweep of the Chill with a 4-1 win in Austin.  Jeremy Finger scored twice including the game’s first and last goal.  Cory Lushanko answered Finger’s goal in the 1st period to tie the game 1-1 at the 1st intermission.  Trevor Waldoch and AJ Reid would increase the Austin lead to 3-1 before Finger’s second of the game late in the 3rd period.  Nicholas Lehr made 31 saves in the Bruins win. Boxscore

Janesville 1 @ St. Louis 3 – The Bandits moved back into 1st place in the Midwest Division with a 3-1 win over Janesville.  Rance Hughes scored twice, including the game-winning goal in the 2nd period and an empty-net goal in the 3rd period.  Ryan Stouffer gave the Bandits a 1-0 lead in the 1st period.  Janesville’s Jake Horton answered to tie the game at 1-1 early in the 2nd period, but Hughes scored twice to put the game out of each.  Joe Kalisz added two assists and Tyler Green made 24 saves in the win. Boxscore

Traverse City 4 @ Kalamazoo 3 (SO) – Brett Beauvais late 3rd period goal for the K-Wings sent the game into extra time, but two shootout goals from Kyle Froese and Michal Toman iced the game for the North Stars.  Will Badner, Sean Murphy and Jared Van Wormer scored in regulation for Traverse City, while Daniel Cesarz, Jacob McDowell and Beauvais answered for Kalamazoo. Boxscore