Saturday Scores: Minotauros and Wolverines Roll to 2-0 Series Leads
Tai Ushio celebrates one of his goals against the Windigo (Photo Credits: Front Cover: Patty Bockoven, Inside Story: Ted Davis)
Maine 0 @ Maryland 1 (East Division Finals, Series Tied 1-1): The Maryland Black Bears shut the Maine Nordiques out 1-0 to tie the series 1-1 in the East Division Finals, the first postseason shutout in Maryland history. The lone Black Bear goal came from Air Force commit Sam Stitz, his fourth game winning goal this season for Maryland. 6’0'' netminder Owen Lepak turned away all 30 shots for the win while Carter Richardson made 36 of 37 saves for Maine.
Bismarck 2 @ Minot 6 (Central Division Finals, Minot Leads Series 2-0): The Minot Minotauros defended home ice to take a 2-0 series lead after taking down the Bismarck Bobcats in a 6-2 final. Minot came out fast in the first period scoring three unanswered goals with Cayden Casey scoring twice and Nicholas Sewecke tallying a goal. In the second, Kyle Doll netted the only Bismarck goal in the second to make the score 3-1. Later in the period, the Minot offense picked back up adding two goals with Sewecke scoring his second goal of the game and Niklas Ketonen scoring to make it a 5-1 lead. In the third, Sewecke netted his third of the night for a hat trick and a 6-1 Minot lead. Later in the third, Trent Anfinson scored for the Bobcats for a final score of 6-2. Minot netminder Lukas Swedin stopped 23 shots in the win. Klayton Knapp and Stephen teamed up to make 27 saves for the Bobcats
Shreveport 2 @ Lone Star 3 (South Division Finals, Series Tied 1-1): The Lone Star Brahmas evened up their series with the Shreveport Mudbugs as they earned a 3-2 win in Game 2. Anthony Cappello scored his first of the postseason just 100 seconds into the action. That would stand as the only goal of the opening frame. In the second, Brent Litchard tied the game up for Shreveport in the opening seconds. However the Brahmas would respond right away with a goal coming off the stick of Owen Kerr. Later in the middle frame, Ryan Burke tied the game for the Mudbgus but 60 seconds later, Charlie Masek responded with what would be the eventual game winner for Lone Star. Deivs Rolovs was the winner in goal as he turned aside 21 of the 23 shots thrown at him. Eliot Seguin-Lescarbeau suffered the loss in the blue paint as he made 24 saves for the Mudbugs.
Wisconsin 3 @ Anchorage 6 (Midwest Division Finals, Anchorage Leads Series 2-0): The Anchorage Wolverines struck early and often as they downed the Wisconsin Windigo 6-3 in Game 2 of the Midwest Division Finals. Taisetsu Ushio notched two goals and two assists to lead the offense for Anchorage. Bryce Monrean tallied a goal and an assist for the Wolverines while Tyler Henninger, Arvada Hovsepyan and Cole Christian all lit the lamp for Anchorage in the win. Lucas Busch, Will Schumacher and Braydon Beahm all scored for the Windigo in the loss. Liam Beerman earned the win in between the pipes as he made 22 saves while Max Beckford and Linards Lipskis combined to stop 25 shots.
