Friday Finals: Magicians big win in Minot helps playoff hopes
Brookings 3 @ Austin 1 – The Blizzard had to have a win and got one on the road on Friday night as they defeated the Austin Bruins, 3-1. Goalie Josh Kuehmichel made 30 saves in the win and forward Kane Durment scored twice. Austin jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead thanks to a goal less than four minutes into the game from Zach Kennedy. However, it would be all Blizzard and Kuehmichel after that as Durment tied things up at 1-1 five minutes later. The Blizzard would add their next two goals in the 2nd period as Garrett Elmore scored and Durment added his second of the game for insurance. Bruins goalie Kris Carlson made 27 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Aston 3 @ Johnstown 2 – The Rebels rallied from the 2-0 deficit and scored three unanswered goals to picked up a 3-2 road win in Johnstown on Friday. The Tomahawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st period with a goal from Andrew Romano. A power play goal from Luke Lynch late in the 2nd period made the score 2-0 in favor of the home side. Just over a minute later, the Rebels got on the board and seized momentum thanks to a strike from Dom Garcia. In the 3rd period, Chris Deprez tied the game at 2-2 with 12 minutes to go and then the game-winner came with under six minutes left from Frank Spellman. Darion Hanson made 21 saves in the win, while Andrew Lindgren made 23 saves in the loss. Boxscore
MN Magicians 5 @ Minot 3 – Pierce Crawford had a four-point night, including two goals and two assists as Minnesota helped their playoff chances with a 5-3 road win in Minot. Will Ulrich made a season-high 53 saves in the Magicians win. After an opening goal from Minot’s Grayson Gavin, the Magicians answered with three straight to end the 1st period as Jack Christensen, Brady Heppner and Crawford all lit the lamp. Minot tied the game with two power play goals in the 2nd period from Derek Frentz and Colton Berg. In the 3rd period, the Magicians scored twice to secure the win as Derek Olmschenk netted the game-winner and Crawford added his 2nd goal of the game. Boxscore
Janesville 1 @ Coulee Region 3 – The Chill helped their playoff chances with a 3-1 win at home over the visiting Jets. Goalie Matiss Kivlenieks was solid again, making 27 saves in the win. Each team scored in the 1st period as the score was knotted at 1-1 thanks to a Chill goal from Dominik Florian and a Jets goal from Adam Winborg on the power play. The Chill took a 2-1 lead early in the 2nd period with a power play goal from Joey Sofo and Larry Jungwirth added an empty-net goal in the 3rd period to complete the scoring. Jets goalie Blake Weyrick played well in the loss, making 39 saves. Boxscore
Bismarck 3 @ Aberdeen 0 – Hunter Shepard stopped all 37 shots that came his way for his league-leading 7th shutout of the season as the Bobcats picked up a big 3-0 road win in Aberdeen to complete a perfect 12 for 12 record against the Wings this season. The Bobcats would get on the board midway through the 1st period thanks to a goal from Jared Pike. The lead increased to 2-0 early in the 2nd period as Travis Wood scored on the power play. One of Shepard’s 37 saves came :24 seconds later on a penalty shot by Tucker DeYoung. Harrison Aide added a 3rd period goal to complete the scoring. Peter Thome made 35 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Odessa 6 @ Topeka 7 – In a wild game, which was a defenses and goalies nightmare, the Topeka RoadRunners moved a step closer to a playoff spot with a 7-6 win over Odessa. Luka Maver, Marcus Russell and JB Baker each scored twice for Topeka and Jeff Makowski and Marshall Bowery each had three assists. The RoadRunners got 1st period goals from Russell and Maver. They scored four goals in the 2nd period, including another from Russell, Maver and one from John O’Connor and Baker. Baker added the game-winner in the 3rd period. For the Jacks, Hampus Sjodahl scored twice and Zach Zech, Derek Brown, Gray Marr and Brennen Miller all scored. Boxscore
Amarillo 2 @ Wichita Falls 6 – Six different players scored as the Wildcats moved a step closer to the South title with a 6-2 home win over the Bulls. The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the 1st period with goals from Trent Dillinger, Domantas Cypas and Jonathan Lazarus. Rourke Russell added a 2nd period goal and Austin Albrecht and Erich Jaeger scored in the 3rd period for the Wildcats. The Bulls got a 1st period power play goal from Coale Norris and a 3rd period goal from Jeff Solow. Wildcats goalie Justin Kapelmaster made 22 saves in the win. Boxscore
Corpus Christi 2 @ Lone Star 4 – The Brahmas erased a 2-1 deficit with three, 3rd period goals on their way to a 4-2 home win over the IceRays. Lone Star jumped out to a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the game as Tomas Brejcha scored. The IceRays would answer back midway through the period on a power play goal from Colton Meekhof. Corpus Christi took their first and only lead early in the 2nd period on a goal from Tobias Kircher. In the 3rd period, it took just over three minutes for the Brahmas to tie the game as leading scorer Alex Berardinelli scored. Late in regulation, Joseph Berg scored the game-winner and Berardinelli added an empty-net goal. Corbin Kaczperski made 20 saves in the Andrew Durham had a hat trick and Jesse Farabee added a goal and two assists win, while Dryden McKay made 26 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Springfield 1 @ MN Wilderness 2 – The Wilderness stifled the Springfield offense in a 2-1 home win on Friday night. Koby Bender had a multi-point game in the win. Bender got things started late in the 1st period with a goal and assists to Brian Hurley and Janis Jakes. Springfield tied the game early in the 2nd period with a goal from Anthony Scarsella with an assist to Brady Tomlak. Bender then set up the eventual game-winner scored by Ryan Bloom less than four minutes later. Wilderness goalie Chase Munroe had to make just 13 saves in the win, while Jr. Blues goalie Tommy Nappier made 24 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4 @ Fairbanks 3 – Grant Valentine made 44 saves to lead the Knights to a huge 4-3 road win in Fairbanks on Friday, snapping Fairbanks’ 11-game winning streak. The Knights led 3-0 in the 1st period. Carson Knopp started the Knights’ surge at 1:25 of the first by redirecting in Tim Gelatt’s shot from the right point. Blake Busch capped a short breakaway with a wrist shot that went in off the left post at 15:34 to make it 2-0 Paul Maust scored on a power play from the right side of the crease at 18:44 to make it 3-0. Goals from Reggie Lutz and Tyler Tomberlin in the 2nd period cut the lead to 3-2, but a late 3rd period goal from Maust, his second of the game, secured the win for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Cameron Cook scored the other goal for Fairbanks late in regulation. Boxscore
New Jersey 7 @ Kenai River 3 – After falling behind 2-1, the Titans scored five unanswered goals on their way to a 7-3 win in Kenai River to maintain 1st place in the East Division. Andrew Durham had a hat trick and Jesse Farabee added a goal and two assists. After a Durham goal made it 1-0 Titans, the Brown Bears went up 2-1 on goals from Connor Inger and Evan Butcher. Bruno Birzitis tied the game later in the 1st period. In the 2nd period, goals from Raymond Brice, Farabee and Durham gave the Titans a 5-2 lead. Joseph Schuler scored in the 3rd period to make it 6-2 before Joey Sardina added the next Brown Bears goal to make it 6-3. Durham added an empty-net goal for his hat-trick. Boxscore
