Saturday Scores: Wilderness, Jets take 2-0 series leads

April 26, 2015

 

The Wilderness once again trailed and didn’t have a lead until the 3rd period, but it would be the only lead they would need as they claimed Game 2 by a 4-2 score, snatching a 2-0 series lead against the Ice Dogs as the series now heads back to Fairbanks for the remainder of the Midwest Finals. Jacob Hetz was the offensive star for the Ice Dogs, as he scored both goals including the game’s first goal just over three minutes into the game.  However, the Wilderness had an answer for each goal as Dan Litchke scored in the 1st period to knot the game at 1-1 and Niklas Lehtimaki answered Hetz’s second goal in the 2nd period to make it 2-2. In the 3rd period, an early goal from Brett Heikkila gave Minnesota their first lead of the game and goal Brock Kautz would make the lead stick as the Wilderness won their fifth straight playoff game thanks to 21 saves from Kautz. Ian Mansfield added a late empty-net goal to cement the 4-2 win. Ice Dogs goalie Patrick Munson made 31 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 

The Jets offense once again could not be stopped as scoring came in quick bursts in Game 2 as the Jets grabbed a 2-0 lead in the series with another convincing win over the Eagles, this time by a 5-1 margin.  The Jets lead the bets of five series, 2-0 as the series heads to Soo for Game 3. The Jets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st period with goals from Nils Rygaard and a power play strike from Drew Callin, who smashed home a puck after some nice passing by linemates Aleksi Ainanil and Mitch Fossier. Special teams would continue to play a part in the Jets success in period 2 as would scoring in bunches. Just over four minutes into the period Dan Kucerovy converted on a nice pass in the slot from Fossier to make it 3-0. Fossier then made it 4-0 as he registered his third point of the night with a shorthanded breakaway goal. Less than two minutes later, a goal from Jeff Alderfer made it 5-0. The Eagles got their first goal of the series late in the period as Raymond Brice scored.  However, that would be all goalie Matt Jurusik would allow. Boxscore

 

 

The Austin Bruins got off to a quick start and never looked back as they captured a Game 2 win over the Minotauros by a 4-1 score to even their best of five series, 1-1. The first three goals for the Bruins came in very similar fashion, with the team crashing the net and trying to get traffic in front of Minot goaltender Atte Tolvanen. Five minutes into the game Alex Jasiek poked home a loose puck after the initial save from Tolvanen to make it 1-0. Later in the period, JC MacLean made it 2-0 with another loose puck goal and three minutes after that Luke Dietsch scored on the power play with traffic in front to make it 3-0.  Minot got on the board midway through the 2nd period as defenseman Jon Lizotte scored while shorthanded, but that would be all goalie Evan Smith would allow as the netminder stopped 26 of 27 shots for the win. Late in the game, Alex Pettersson added an empty-net goal to make the final 4-1.  Tolvanen ended up making 20 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 

 

The Brahmas lost a four-goal lead, as Topeka erased a four-goal deficit to tie the game late in regulation, only to see Lone Star score in overtime to even the best of five series, 1-1 with a 5-4 overtime win in Game 2. The Brahmas struck early as a RoadRunners turnover in their own zone saw the puck go right to Cody Wickline who fired home a shot for a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, Liam Stirtzinger was credited with the second goal as he scored on a backhanded shot. Midway through the 2nd period Roman Uchyn made it 3-0 as he collected his own rebound off of Topeka goalie Matej Tomek and put home a wrap-around goal. Less than a minute later a goal from Cody Wickline made it 4-0 and ended the night for Tomek as Drew Vogler came in.  That sparked the RoadRunners to an almost epic comeback lead by Mike Gornall who then single-handedly got Topeka back in the game with three straight goals for a hat-trick including two late in the 2nd period just :35 seconds apart and another midway through the 3rd period. Gornall set up the game-tying goal with just seconds left as he RoadRunners won a face-off deep in the Brahmas zone to see Carlos Fornaris put home a backhander past TJ Black to tie the game at 4-4 and send it to overtime. Less than four minutes into the overtime, Brahmas forward Storm Wahlrab picked off a clearing attempt and danced around the defense, sliding a backhander past Vogler for the game-winner. Vogler took the loss, making 7 saves in the relief effort, while Black made 17 saves in the win. Boxscore