Wednesday Wrap-up: North Iowa Skates to Overtime Win on the Road

North Iowa 4 @ Minnesota M 3 (OT) - The North Iowa Bulls completed a nail-biting victory over the Minnesota Mallards that required overtime to decide. With both teams trading blows throughout all of regulation, the Bulls managed to get the best of the Mallards in the dying moments of a thrilling overtime period. Around the midpoint of the first period, the Bulls were awarded a power play. Just ten seconds into the man advantage, the first unit strung together an excellent passing play that ended in a Denis Kuzmenkov goal. Just minutes later, the Mallards responded with a great passing play of their own that Keanan Pearman capped off with a goal. The second period was underway, and this time the Mallards got the frame started with a goal from Drew Bowe. Again, the response came quickly, this time with a Denis Hodas goal for the Bulls. Hodas came back around for a one-timer on the two-man advantage in the third period. With under two minutes remaining and the goalie pulled on the power play, Pearman tucked one under the bar and evened the score for the Mallards. Overtime was required, and it was very busy on both sides of the ice. It was looking like a shootout was necessary, but Michael Malatino wired a puck from the slot that found the back of the net. Although the 39-23 shot advantage for the Bulls would suggest otherwise, this contest was quite evenly matched through the 64:39 of game time. Ultimately, Hodas was able to lead an important mid-game charge that allowed the Bulls to build some momentum, leading to their overtime victory.