Friday Finals: Austin, Lone Star, El Paso, and Minnesota Punch Tickets to the Division Finals

Photo Credit: Michael Cosman

Rochester 3 @ Northeast 4 (series tied 2-2) - The Northeast Generals hosted the Jr. Americans in their second do-or-die contest for the weekend. The opening frame featured no team finding twine. Moving into the second frame, the Generals struck first with Robert Savaglio scoring his first of the postseason for Northeast midway through the frame. Heading into the final period, the Generals quickly added to their lead with a power-play goal by Logan Poulin a minute and a half in. A little over a minute later, the Jr. Americans cut the lead with a power-play goal by Adam Gionta. The scoring continued as Andrew Gibbons lit the lamp shorthanded for Northeast. The Jr. Americans would look to have a third-period spark as Konner Powell and Adam Gionta score to even the score 3-3. In the last three minutes of the game, Northeast would secure the win with a power-play goal by Beckett Hinchsliff. The Generals skate to a big 4-3 victory and force a game five.

Fairbanks 2 @ Wisconsin 1 (series tied 2-2) -  The Fairbanks Ice Dogs came into town in a continued win-or-go-home scenario. The Ice Dogs opened the scoring in the first period with Matthew Volkman scoring on a breakaway midway through the frame. The second period would be quiet as both teams traded chances. Fairbanks outshot Wisconsin 5 to 4. In the final 20 minutes of regulation, the Ice Dogs add insurance quickly in the third period. Volkman scored four minutes into the frame on the breakaway again. As the clock was about to expire, the Windigo would cut the lead in half. Joshua Sardo lights the lamp with five seconds to spare in the contest. Fairbanks would secure a tight 2-1 victory and force a game five against Wisconsin.

Austin 4 @ Watertown 3 (OT) (Austin wins series 3-0) - The Watertown Shamrocks hosted the Austin Bruins in a pivotal game three. The contest opened up with the Shamrocks lighting the lamp first. Owen Fask scored his second of the postseason for Watertown. Later on in the opening frame, the captain, Nathan Williams scored on the man advantage for the Bruins to even the score. Moving into the second frame, the Bruins light the lamp quickly in the second frame as Michael Coleman finds twine less than a minute into the period. Following him was Henry Miller from the Shamrocks at the 15:05 minute mark for Watertown. The Shamrocks would take a lead with a goal by Payton Struck three minutes later. In the final few minutes of the middle period, Matsvei Marshchanok lights the lamp to even the score off of a feed by Siamion Marshchanok. In the final frame, both teams traded chances, however, neither was able to light the lamp. Austin outshot Watertown 14 to 5 in the final 20 minutes of regulation. In the overtime period both teams battled, however, it would be the Bruins to find twine in the extra frame. EJ Paddington finds twine on the man advantage to punch the Bruins’ ticket to the Division Final. Despite notching the loss, Watertown’s netminder, Mason Gudridge, put on a show for the Shamrocks fans. He turned aside 47 out of 51 shots on net. 

Lone Star 2 @ Shreveport 0 (Lone Star wins series 3-0) - In a goaltending duel at George’s Pond, the Lone Star Brahmas would punch their ticket to the South Division Final with a shutout road victory. The first two frames of the contest were scoreless as neither team would light the lamp. Shreveport would outshot Lone Star 14 to 8 between the periods. Moving into the final period, the Brahmas would break the deadlock five minutes into the frame. Gustav Lexell finds twine off a rebound and scores top shelf for Lone Star. With a one-goal deficit, the Mudbugs would pull their goaltender, Ethan Phillips, to give Shreveport the man advantage on the ice. However, the Brahmas would score in an empty-netter style thanks to Vladimir Saibel at the 1:04 minute mark. Lone Star skates to a 2-0 victory. Between the pipes, Brady Krey turned aside all 25 shots for the Brahmas, securing the win for Lone Star.

Bismarck 4 @ Aberdeen 2 (Bismarck leads series 2-1) - In a continued battle of the Dakotas, the Bismarck Bobcats take the Friday night victory with a big first-period scoring frenzy. The contest opened with the Bobcats striking first. Lighting the lamp first was Ben Rakowski at the 13:16 minute mark of the first period. The scoring would continue as Nick Snyder would find twine on the power play a little over a minute later. Scoring the third goal of the period would be the Robert Morris commit, Mark Evans, on the man advantage for the Bobcats. Heading into the second frame, the Bobcats would add to their lead with Eddie Revenig lighting the lamp in the first two minutes of the middle period. With a 4-0 deficit, the Wings got to work and started to cut the deficit. Briggs Orr scored a minute later for Aberdeen to bring it to 4-1. Heading into the third frame, Aberdeen scores once again, this time, David Hruby lighting the lamp midway through the frame. The Bobcats take the lead in the Central Division Semifinals heading into Saturday night. 

New Mexico 2 @ El Paso 3 OT (El Paso wins series 3-0) - In a must-win situation for the Ice Wolves, the El Paso Rhinos would punch their ticket in overtime against New Mexico. The opening frame featured both teams not scoring. New Mexico would outshot El Paso 11 to 5. Moving into the second frame the Rhinos would strike first thanks to Aidan Bergner lighting the lamp off a feed from Simon Nealy and Jacob Solano. Two minutes following him would be New Mexico tightening up the score thanks to Sloan Farmer. The scoring would continue as Ethan Woolcott lights the lamp on the man advantage for the Rhinos to regain the lead. However, the Ice Wolves would tighten the score once more, this time by Sean Smith on the man advantage. With the score tied 2-2, the contest would stay deadlocked throughout the third period. The overtime period would feature Jacob Solano lighting the lamp in game-winning fashion for the Rhinos, punching their ticket to the South Division Final. Between the pipes, Michael Modelski turned aside 42 out of 44 shots on net, securing the win for El Paso.

Minnesota W 3 @ Anchorage 2 OT (Minnesota wins series 3-1) - In a battle at the Sullivan Arena, the two teams featured an exciting overtime thriller on Friday night. The scoring did not kick off until the second frame, as the teams were deadlocked in the first. The Wilderness would score two power-play tallies in the middle frame. Avery Anderson would score his second of the postseason midway through the second. Following him later in the period would be Talan  Blanck with 35 seconds to spare. With 20 minutes of regulation left, the Wolverines battled back to even the score. Jack McKenna lights the lamp midway through the final frame to cut the deficit in half for the Wolverines. With a postseason chance on the line, the Wolverines found twine with one second to spare in the final frame. As the game was tied, the contest was forced into overtime. In the extra frame, the Wilderness would clinch the victory with a tally by Max Edwards. The Wilderness punches their ticket to the Midwest Division Final in game four against the Wolverines.