Friday Finals: Chill take series lead with 6-1 win in Fairbanks
Midwest Division Semi-Finals, Game 1: Coulee Region 6 @ Fairbanks 1 (Coulee Region leads best of 5 series, 1-0) – Maybe it was the fact they have been playing for their playoff lives since January. Maybe it was the fact they want to win a cup for outgoing coach AJ Degenhardt, or maybe it was that they played a smart game and buried their chances. Whatever the reason, the Chill pulled off the upset of the night as they easily handled the #1-seeded Ice Dogs in front of a packed house in Fairbanks to claim Game 1, 6-1. After an opening goal from Ice Dogs defenseman Jakob Stridsberg, it was all Chill as they scored twice in each period. Larry Jungwirth and Shane Kuzmeski scored late in the 1st period, Niko Luka and Alex Falconer scored in the 2nd period and Dominik Florian and Jungwirth added 3rd period goals. Matiss Kivlenieks made 24 saves in the win, while Gavin Nieto made 11 saves before being pulled in the loss. Boxscore
Midwest Division Semi-Finals, Game 1: MN Wilderness 2 @ Janesville 5 (Janesville leads best of 5 series, 1-0) – Adrian Holesinsky and Taylor Fernandez each had three-point nights as the Jets jumped out to a big lead and hung on for a 5-2 win over the defending Champion Wilderness. The Jets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the 1st period with goals from Andrew Roye and Holesinsky. In the 2nd period, Roye scored again for his second goal of the night along with Michael Maloney to make it 4-0. Fernandez added a power play goal in the 3rd period. Both Wilderness goals came in the 3rd period from Tristan Rostagno and Casey Gilling. Jack LaFontaine made 27 saves in the win, while Chase Munroe made 17 saves in the loss. Boxscore
East Division Semi-Finals, Game 1: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2 @ Aston 3 (Aston leads best of 5 series, 1-0) – Ryan Cusin had three points and factored in on all the Aston goals as the Rebels took home a 3-2 win in Game 1. Cusin got the scoring started just five minutes into the game, only to see the Knights tie the game at 1-1 later in the period with a goal from Tim Gelatt. The Rebels would regain the lead late in the period with a goal from Michael Merulla to make the score 2-1. Merulla would strike again early in the 2nd period to put the Rebels ahead 3-1. In the 3rd period, the Knights brought themselves to within one with a goal from Carson Knop, but could not find the equalizer. Rebels goalie Darion Hanson made 22 saves in the win, while Knights goalie Grant Valentine made 27 saves in the loss. Boxscore
East Division Semi-Finals, Game 2: Johnstown 2 @ New Jersey 0 (Johnstown leads best of 5 series, 2-0) – Andrew Lindgren stopped all 21 shots that came his way as the Tomahawks seized control of the series with other road win in New Jersey by a 2-0 shutout. After two scoreless periods, the Tomahawks got on the board early in the 3rd period on a goal from Zak Galambos. Luke Lynch added a late empty-net goal to secure the 2-0 win. Jack Berry made 24 saves in the loss for the Titans. The series now shifts to Johnstown for Game 3 where the Tomahawks need one more win to claim the series. Boxscore
South Division Semi-Finals, Game 1: Odessa 3 @ Wichita Falls 6 (Wichita Falls leads best of 5 series, 1-0) – On the strength of five, 2nd period goals, the Wildcats came from behind to defeat the Jackalopes in Game 1, 6-3. Things looked good for the Jacks as they opened up a 3-0 lead with three late goals in the 1st period from Brandon Tucker, Pierce Pluemer and Zach Zech. The Wildcats stormed back in the 2nd period with five goals including two from Jeff Baum and others from Jonathan Lazarus, Nikita Litviak and Aleksi Poikola. Andre Pison added a power play goal in the 3rd period to make the final 6-3. Justin Kapelmaster made 34 saves in the win, while Dean Shatzer was saddled with the loss allowing six goals on 36 shots. Boxscore
South Division Semi-Finals, Game 1: Topeka 1 @ Lone Star 3 (Lone Star leads best of 5 series, 1-0) – The Brahmas defense was spot on in allowing Topeka only 15 shots on goal in a 3-1 win in Game 1. After a scoreless 1st period, the Brahmas got on the board late in the 2nd period on a goal from Carson Kelly. The Brahmas took a 2-0 lead midway through the 3rd period thanks to a shorthanded goal from Martin Mellberg. Topeka cut the lead to 2-1 thanks to a power play goal from newly minted Ferris St, recruit Dominic Lutz, but two minutes later, the Brahmas put the game on ice thanks to a goal from Tyler Drevitch. Corbin Kaczperski made 14 saves in the win, while Juho Niku made 24 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Central Division Semi-Finals, Game 1: Brookings 2 @ Bismarck 5 (Bismarck leads best of 5 series, 1-0) – Three power play goals in the 1st period stood up to be enough for the Bobcats in their 5-2 win in Game 1 on Friday over the visiting Blizzard. Alex Strand opened the scoring just over five minutes into the game, but that was answered by a goal from the Blizzard’s Martan Yelle three minutes later to make it 1-1. Two power play goals late in the period from Aaron Herdt and Patrik Demel made the score 3-1. The lone 2nd period goal came from Mikael Hakkarainen on the power play to cut the lead to 3-2, but two more goals in the 3rd period from Solag Bakich and Willie Brown secured the 5-2 win for Bismarck. Hunter Shepard made 28 saves in the win, while Josh Kuehmichel made 25 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Central Division Semi-Finals, Game 1: Austin 1 @ Minot 3 (Minot leads best of 5 series, 1-0) – Gunner Rivers made 22 saves to lead Minot to a 3-1 win in Game 1 as they try and exercise some playoff demons from the past three years against the Bruins. Minot got on the board first late in the 1st period on a goal from Jack Murphy thanks to a scramble in front. Austin tied the game less than three minutes later with a goal from Paul O’Connor. After a scoreless 2nd period, penalty trouble in the 3rd for the Bruins led the Minotauros to two more goals, both on the power play, from Christian Mohs and another from Muprhy to secure the win. Kris Carlson made 30 saves in the loss. Boxscore
