Bruins, Bobcats, and Jr. Americans Move On to Division Finals

Austin, Bismarck and Rochester celebrate Game 5 wins at home (Photo credits: Toby Newton, Emmy Vitali & Hope Magelky)

Johnstown 5 @ Rochester 6 (OT) (Rochester wins East Division Semifinals 3-2): Despite allowing the Johnstown Tomahawks to get hot and even up the series, the Rochester Jr. Americans come from behind to solidify a 3-2 series win, emerging victorious 6-5 in overtime. An offensive showdown began late in the opening period, as Calle Karlsson lit the lamp to give Rochester the first lead. That would only last 9 seconds however, when Jack Genovese saw his shot squeak past the netminder to tie the game for Johnstown. Over the course of the second period, the Tomahawks completely took over. Three straight goals courtesy of Ryan Flaherty, Tate Pecknold, and Adam Ondris saw Johnstown take a commanding lead. But, the Jr. Americans weren’t going to go down without a fight. Early in the third, Ryan Shaw and Demitri Diflorio quick rocketed shots to put their team within one. Just as it looked like Rochester had a chance to come back. Pecknold’s second of the game minimized that chance quickly. Rochester would not go down without a fight, as Shaw scored midway through the period and Jaden Dyke then did the impossible to even the score. Overcoming a three-goal deficit, Rochester now headed to overtime with Johnstown, even at five apiece. There, with just 4:11 into overtime, Dyke scored the game winning goal to win the series for Rochester and move on in the Robertson Cup Playoffs

Minot 1 @ Austin 5 (Austin wins Central Division Semifinals 3-2): The Austin Bruins dominated the Minot Minotauros in Game 5 of the Central Division Semifinals by a score of 5-1, capping off a series comeback after being down 2-0. The Bruins took control of this one early as they potted three first period goals to establish a big lead after 20 minutes. Luc Malkhassian scored twice in a span of 3:24 to put the Bruins up by two halfway through the opening period. Game 4 overtime hero Gavin Hruza increased the lead to three with his second goal of the series. Early in the second, the Bruins put a stranglehold on the game with a goal from Jackson Rilei. In the third, Evan Malkhassian put the icing on the cake with his second goal of the postseason to make it a 5-0 game. Adam Mahler broke the shutout in the final 90 seconds but it wasn’t enough as the Bruins eliminated the Minotauros with a 5-1 win. Jack Soloman was nearly perfect as he has 33 saves in the win. Lukas Swedin ended the evening with 31 saves for Minot. 

Aberdeen 3 @ Bismarck 5 (Bismarck wins Central Division Semifinals 3-2):  Bismarck closed out the Central Division Semifinals on Monday night, winning the series 3-2 over the Aberdeen Wings to advance to the next round of the Robertson Cup Playoffs. Aberdeen opened the scoring in the second period with a goal from Ian Engel. Bismarck responded quickly as Ryder Many Grey Horses tied the game. The Wings briefly regained the lead through Jibber Kuhl, but the Bobcats answered back. Keanu Krenn evened the score again, and Alexandr Kim netted the go-ahead goal later in the period to give Bismarck a 3-2 lead heading into the third. Aberdeen tied the game once again early in the third with a goal from Bryce Johnson. But Bismarck refused to back down. Josh Lehto netted the game-winner with less than 5 minutes left in the period, and Krenn sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final seconds, his second of the night. Bismarck’s goaltender Tomas Anderson made 23 saves on 26 shots in the win, while Aberdeen’s Damon Cunningham stopped 24 of the 28 shots he faced. The Bobcats took Game 5 with a 5-3 win and now move on to the Central Division Finals where they will face off against the Austin Bruins.

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