Friday Finals: Brown Bears win in Fairbanks
Kenai River Brown Bears 3 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs 2 (OT) – The Brown Bears moved back into a tie for the 4th and final playoff spot with a 3-2 overtime win in Fairbanks. The two clubs traded two goals apiece in the 2nd period with the Nathan Colwell and Judd Loewenstein putting the Brown Bears up 2-0 and Wyatt Ege and Yannick Vedel tying things up for Fairbanks. It took just over a minute into OT for Vincent Stefan to score the game-winning goal. Boxscore
Topeka RoadRunners 3 @ Lone Star Brahmas 0 – Although he had to make just 14 saves, RoadRunners goalie PJ Bridges posted his 8th shutout of the season, tying a franchise record in the process. After a scoreless 1st period, the RoadRunners took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period on a goal from Yu Hikosaka. Sam Rennaker and Zach Glienke added 3rd period goals to secure the win for Topeka, who outshot Lone Star 35-14. Jett Salinas made 32 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Bismarck Bobcats 4 @ Brookings Blizzard 2 – Conor Andrle scored twice to the lead the Brookings Blizzard to a 4-2 home win over Bismarck. Each team scored a power play goal in the 1st period as Nate Repensky scored for Bismarck and Wyatt Schmidt scored for Brookings. Brookings pushed the lead to 3-1 on goals from Ryan Sete and Andrle. Evan Giesler cut the lead to 3-2, but a late empty-net goal from Andrle secured the 4-2 win. Boxscore
Michigan Warriors 3 @ Springfield Jr. Blues 2 – The Warriors used an efficient power play to stay in 2nd place in the North with a 3-2 win in Springfield. After Brendan Jacques gave Springfield an early 1-0 lead in the 1st period, Michigan scored twice in the 2nd period to take a 2-1 lead on goals from Sean Campbell and Cody Kuster. Max Kalter briefly tied the game at 2-2 with a power play goal for the Jr. Blues, but Collin Larkin added the game winner with less than eight minutes remaining. Boxscore
Janesville Jets 4 @ Soo Eagles 3 – The Jets moved into a three-way tie for the 4th and final playoff spot in the North Division with a 4-3 road win in Soo. Brock Kautz made 34 saves in the win for the Jets. It took just two players to do the scoring for Janesville as Kyle Patava and Robin Hoglund each scored twice. Patava scored the first and last goals for the Jets and Hoglund had two power play goals in the 2nd period. Bruno Birzitis, Denver Pierce and Sandis Zolmanis scored for the Eagles in the loss. Boxscore
Wenatchee Wild 3 @ Johnstown Tomahawks 4 – Jordan Watt scored a hat-trick to lead the Tomahawks over the Wild by a score of 4-3. After Watt scored the opening goal, Wenatchee responded with three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead at the end of the 1st period. Parker Tuomie scored twice and Brandon Schrader scored the goals for the Wild. Watt added his second goal on the power play in the 2nd period and then tied the game with his 3rd goal early in the 3rd period. Joe Drabin added the game-winning goal with 7:55 remaining. Boxscore
Aberdeen Wings 1 @ Austin Bruins 2 (OT) – The Bruins snapped a small losing skid to move back into 1st place in the Central Division with a 2-1 overtime win over the visiting Wings. Jake Arroyo gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the 1st period. TJ Roo eventually tied the game in the 3rd period for the Wings. Just :50 seconds into overtime, Guillaume Leclerc ended the game with the OT-winner. Nick Lehr made 23 saves in the win, while Henry Dill took the loss making 28 saves. Boxscore
Wichita Falls Wildcats 7 @ Odessa Jackalopes 3 – The Wildcats fired off 40 shots on goal and scored the final five goals of the game to defeat the Jacks, 7-3. Kirk Van Arkel scored twice in the win. Things looked good early for Odessa as they had a 3-2 lead midway through the game on goals from Mathieu Briand, Trace Jablin and Razmuz Waxin-Engback. After goals from Sam Piazza and Van Arkel to keep pace with Odessa, the Wildcats scored five straight with goals from Kyle Bauman, Nick Farmer, Colin Staub, Max Reisinger and another from Van Arkel. Boxscore
Minnesota Wilderness 3 @ Minot Minotauros 1 – Frank Oplinger made 27 saves to help the Wilderness to a 3-1 road win in Minot. After an opening goal from Minot’s Jacob Howie, it was all Wilderness the rest of the way. Thomas Lindstrom scored twice and Johno May added the other tally for the Wilderness who maintained their 2nd place spot in the Midwest Division. Merrick Madsen made 21 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Minnesota Magicians @ Coulee Region Chill – postponed due to inclement weather.
