Saturday Scores: Series Leads Extended in the Midwest and South, While the Central and East are Evened
Photo Credit: Jeremy Elbert
Rochester 3 @ Maryland 1 (series tied 1-1) - As the East Division Division Final continues, the Rochester Jr. Americans respond in a commanding way to even the series. The contest opened with both teams trading chances, with Rochester outshooting Maryland 12 to 7. In the middle frame, the Jr. Americans light the lamp first thanks to a tally from the point by Murray Kanerva. Seven minutes later, the Black Bears would even the score with a backdoor goal by Graiden Insana. As the fish went flying in Maryland, the second-period scoring would not end there. With 3:20 left on the clock, Lukas Bellinger reclaims the lead for Rochester following two deflections off of Maryland’s netminder, Ryan Denes. Moving into the final frame, both teams would trade chances as the game was tight with a one-goal differential. In the final few minutes of the contest, Maryland would pull their goaltender to give their team a man advantage on the ice. Off a faceoff in Rochester's defensive zone, the Jr. Americans capitalized on a rebounded puck. Keanan Dewberry buries the puck into the empty net to seal the Jr. Americans' 3-1 victory. In net for Rochester, Florian Wade turned aside 29 out of 30 shots on net.
Aberdeen 2 @ Austin 0 (series tied 1-1) - In a tight back-and-forth, low-scoring battle, the Aberdeen Wings defeated the red-hot Austin Bruins on Saturday night. The contest opened with the Wings finding twine in the first period thanks to a rebounded puck. Brody Dustin notches his fourth of the postseason. Moving into the second period, the scoring was quiet as both teams traded chances. Aberdeen outshot Austin 11 to 7 in the middle frame. The scoring would slow down for the rest of the contest until the final few seconds of the game. As Austin pulled their netminder in the final few minutes, the Wings capitalized on the empty net in the final seconds. Easton Edwards scores the insurance tally on the power play. Aberdeen skates to a 2-0 victory. In net for the Wings, Willum Braun secures a shutout, turning aside all 30 shots on net.
Wisconsin 3 @ Minnesota 2 (Wisconsin leads series 2-0) - The Wisconsin Windigo continued their road dominance with a tight 3-2 victory over the division-leading Minnesota Wilderness. The contest kicked off with Minnesota striking first in the opening period. Bryce Dahl lights the lamp off of a rebound midway through the frame. That lead would not last long as Aidan Hickok evened the score with a power-play tally five minutes later for the Windigo. Moving into the second period, the Wilderness would reclaim the lead with Wisconsin commit Talan Blanck scoring his sixth of the postseason. Midway through the period, Ryan Mottau scores top shelf unassisted for the Windigo. With the score tied 2-2, the contest progressed into the final frame. Wisconsin secures the 3-2 victory with a goal by Beau Kralovec seven minutes into the period. The Wilderness would fall on home ice as Wisconsin skates to a 2-0 series lead.
El Paso 1 @ Lone Star 2 (Lone Star leads series 2-0) - In a tight contest between the two Texas teams, the El Paso Rhinos fall to the Lone Star Brahmas for the second night in a row. The scoring opened with Samuel Lussier striking quickly in the opening frame. The Brahmas would hold onto the lead into the second period as both teams traded chances. The contest would eventually be forced into the final 20 minutes of regulation as Leo Isaksson lit the lamp on the power play to extend the Brahmas' lead. The Rhinos would not go down without a fight as El Paso scored on the man advantage to make the contest a one-goal differential with three minutes to spare. Gaige Giblin lights the lamp on the power play to make the contest 2-1. Lone Star would seal the victory. In net for the Brahmas, Brady Krey turned aside 39 out of 40 shots on net.
