Saturday Scores: East and South Divisions Set For Postseason

Maryland 2 @ Johnstown 3 - The Tomahawks would get it going early, with a goal coming from Charlie Zetterkvist a little bit more than a minute into the first. The game would be very defensive, with the next goal coming late in the second, with Adam Csabi finding the twine to double the lead. In the third, Liam Doherty and Josh Frenette would score powerplay goals to level the game at two. Johnstown would later regain their lead, with Peter Morris scoring the eventual game-winning goal. William Baker would hold the fort down, making 32 saves on the night.

New Hampshire 1 @ Maine 3 - It would be a very feisty game on Saturday night, with both teams having several minor penalties. Zion Green would light the lamp on the man-advantage to put Maine in front. In the second, New Hampshire would level the game with a goal from Jack MacDonald, but another Nordiques powerplay goal from Usko Laaksonen would put them back in front. Maine would hold on, with Joseph Gasperko scoring an empty net goal and Carter Richardson stopping 29 of 30 shots.

Rochester 1 @ New Jersey 2 - The Titans would strike first, scoring a pair of goals from Ty Creech and Ryan Friedman. In the second, Adam Gionta would light the lamp on the powerplay to cut the deficit in half. Despite a large attack in the third period, Rochester would be unable to tie the game, with Tyler Rounds standing on his head, making 37 saves on Saturday night.

Elmira 2 @ Northeast 0 - The Elmira Aviators closed out their 2024 campaign with a road shutout 2-0 win over the Northeast Generals. Forwards Curtiss Sturgeon and Matthew Maglio each scored a goal in the victory. It was Sturgeon's 20th goal of the season and Maglio's second-straight game with a goal, bumping his final season total to 15. The loss was just the second time the Generals were shutout all year — the last time came on March 9 to the East Division champion Rochester Jr Americans 4-0. Elmira goalie Wesley Jefferson-Swint II gets credited with the shutout, his second of the season, after saving 34 of 34 shots on goal. Elmira finished their inaugural season in the NAHL with a 21-34 record, three overtime losses, and a shootout loss. With the win, they earned their 46th point and barely edged out the Northeast Generals to finish in ninth place in the East Division standings. After making the playoffs last year, the Northeast Generals ended 2024 in last place in the East Division with a 19-33 record, four overtime losses, and three shootout losses.

Wisconsin 2 @ Springfield 1 (OT) - The Springfield Jr. Blue picked up a point in their home 2-1 overtime loss to the Midwest Division champion Wisconsin Windigo to stay competitive in the playoff hunt nearing the last week of the regular season. Neither team mustered any offense through the first two periods of the contest. That changed when Springfield forward Niko Laus and Wisconsin forward Zachary Cline each scored their 17th goal of the season to tie the game 1-1. The game was seemingly set for a shootout as the overtime period drew to a close until forward Jackson Ernst lit the lantern with less than 30 seconds remaining to win the game for the Windigo. Ernst has scored three goals in the past five games for Wisconsin, including two game-winners. Goalie Beau Altman gets the win, saving 26 of 27 shots on goal, and goalie Frank Murphy gets credited with the loss despite a valiant 47 of 49 effort.

Danbury 0 @ Philadelphia 3 - The Philadelphia Rebels finished off their 2024 campaign with a win, shutting out the Danbury Hat Tricks 3-0 at home. Forwards Abzal Alibek, Brock Jones, and Caesar Bjork each scored a goal in the win — the byproduct of the 57 shots the Rebels produced. Bjork's goal increased his final season point total to 50, the most on the team, and tied for 39th most in the league. The win was the second time Philadelphia had shutout a team all year, and both came with Owen Crudale between the pipes. The Rebels end their season with the same amount of wins and losses, 26-30, as they did a season ago and finish in seventh place in the East Division, one spot higher than the previous year. Danbury's final record is 23-33, with three overtime losses placing them in eighth place in the East Division standings. 

North Iowa 0 @ Austin 4 - The North Iowa Bulls hoped to skate away with a win on Saturday night against the Austin Bruins. Unfortunately, they failed to even score a goal in this contest. Bruins goalie Carl Axelsson stopped all 30 shots he faced to allow his team to skate away with a 4-0 win on home ice. Evan Malkhassian led the way offensively with a goal and an assist on Saturday.

Corpus Christi 1 @ Shreveport 4 - Special teams were a crucial part in the outcome of Saturday night’s clash between the Corpus Christi IceRays and Shreveport Mudbugs. Both teams had their chances on the power play, with the IceRays getting three of them and the Mudbugs getting four. However, Corpus Christi failed to capitalize on any of them. Shreveport took full advantage, though, scoring three power-play goals en route to a 4-1 win on Saturday night.

Oklahoma 1 @ Amarillo 5 - The scoresheet depicts a closer game between the Oklahoma Warriors and Amarillo Wranglers than some would imagine given the score. Both teams failed to pass the 30 shot mark. And they combined for one power play goal. However, Amarillo rode a three-goal first period to skate away with a 5-1 victory on Saturday. Trevor O’Donohue led the way offensively with two goals for the Wranglers.

Minot 2 @ Aberdeen 7 - The Minot Minotauros had a decent first period against the hosting Aberdeen Wings despite allowing a goal. The next two periods, though, certainly did not go their way. Minot allowed three goals in each of the next two frames as the hosting Wings pulled away to claim a huge 7-2 victory away from home. Jibber Kuhl led the way for Aberdeen offensively as he scored two goals in an impressive four-point effort.

Minnesota M 3 @ Bismarck 4 (OT) - 60 minutes would not be enough, but Ian Engel would be the hero for the Bismarck Bobcats, as his overtime winner delivered a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Mallards, securing an all-important weekend sweep. In the first, teams would trade goals, as Brayden Kaldenbach would open the scoring for the Mallards, but just 18 seconds later, Keanu Krenn would equalize. Ethan Rosenoff would score his first of the night to give the Mallards the lead, but with just under two minutes to go, Kyle Doll would get his first of the night to bring the game skidding into the first intermission deadlocked at 2 goals apiece. In the second, the teams would trade goals once again, Rosenoff would give the Mallards the lead, but 23 seconds would be all it took for Doll to keep the game tied heading into the final frame. Plenty of chances were had, but stellar goaltending brought the game to overtime, where Engel would bury the overtime winner for the Mallards.

Colorado 0 @ Odessa 2 - A pair of powerplay goals would be all the Odessa Jackalopes needed on Saturday, earning a weekend split with a 2-0 win over the Colorado Grit. In the first, Jeremy Jacobs converted on the man advantage to give the Jackalopes the lead, and his goal would be the difference maker. Braden Pietila added an insurance marker just 50 seconds into the second period to seal the win, and 22 saves from William Karphed earned him his first shutout of the season in the win. Peter Sterling stopped 29 in the losing effort.

El Paso 0 @ Lone Star 3 - Goals in each period was the recipe for the Lone Star Brahmas on Saturday, as they defeated the El Paso Rhinos by a final of 3-0. In the first, Charlie Masek opened the scoring. A second period tally from Owen Kerr doubled the Brahmas lead, and a late goal from Anthony Cappello sealed the win. Ryan Cameron stopped all 15 in the win for his ninth shutout of the season, while Brayden Macho stopped 41 in the losing effort.

Kenai River 2 @ Anchorage 6 - The Wolverines struck early and often as they dismantled the Brown Bears by a score of 6-2. Anchorage exploded for five goals in the opening period with them being scored just eight minutes apart. Toby Carlson started the onslaught with his 21st of the season. Jack Darby got his third of the year just 49 seconds later. Taisetsu Ushio increased the lead to three with his 23rd of the campaign. That was followed up by Andrew Karkoc’s 11th goal 62 seconds after. Merit Waldrop finished the scoring with his fourth of the year at the 12:53 mark of the first period. Kenai River made things somewhat interesting heading into the third as Austin Petersen and Luke Hause netted goals in the second period. In the third, the lone goal of the period came off the stick of Cole Christian who put the icing on the cake in the victory. Michael Manzi grabbefd the win in goal with 20 saves. Owen Zenone and Mitchell Mccuskers teamed up to make 37 saves.

Chippewa 1 @ Fairbanks 2 - A second period goal from Wyatt Carlson proved to be the difference as the Fairbanks Ice Dogs won the rubber match against the Chippewa Steel 2-1 on Saturday night. Thomas Corneillie broke the scoreless tie just under 12 minutes into the action with his fourth of the year. Chippewa would answer with a goal from Henry Peterson just a few minutes later to take a tied game to the locker room. Carlson scored four minutes into the middle frame and that would be the last puck to find the back of the net as Mason McElroy finished with 26 saves in the win and while Devin Shakar and Charlie Tritt teamed up to make 36 saves for the Steel.

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