Bruins, Wildcats get close wins on Thursday
Evan Moyse made 49 saves for Wichita Falls in a 3-2 overtime win in Odessa, which extended the Wildcats winning streak to seven straight games.
Austin 5 @ Coulee Region 3 – Thanks to three goals in the 3rd period, including two from forward Michael Piehler, the Austin Bruins picked up a 5-3 road win on Thursday in Coulee Region. The Chill took a 2-0 lead as Larry Jungwirth opened the scoring through Alex Schilling’s five-hole at 16:52 of the first period. Coulee Region then doubled its lead through veteran forward Joey Sofo, who batted a flying puck out of the air for his team-best 13th goal of the season. The Bruins stormed back in the 2nd period as Tanner Default’s fourth goal of the year made it 2-1 for Austin. Less than four minutes later, Liam Thrawl scored a rebound goal at the back post to tie the game. Piehler then scored back-to-back goals in the 3rd period to make it 4-2. The Chill responded at 11:06 with a goal from newly acquired forward Simon Sigossor, his first of the season. But Austin held firm down the stretch, and tacked on an empty-netter from Justin Misiak inside the final 10 seconds to seal its comeback victory. Schilling made 33 saves in the win, while Todd Scott made 33 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Wichita Falls 3 @ Odessa 2 (OT) – The Wichita Falls Wildcats won their 7th straight game with a 3-2 overtime win in Odessa on Thursday. The Wildcats got off to a 1-0 lead just 3:24 into the game. Steven Tillie was set up in the right circle by linemates Blake Ripley and Isaac Kobienia. Odessa leveled the score at 1-1 as Zach Zech carried the puck down the right wing and rifled a heavy shot through Evan Moyse from a severe angle for his team-leading 9th goal of the season. Odessa would be given a 5-on-3 of their own shortly thereafter, but the Cats fought it off. Jeff Skinner beat Eric Schuch with a wrist shot over the glove for his second goal in as many games to give the Cats a 2-1 lead. Moyse had his work cut out for him in the closing period, as well. Odessa outshot the Wildcats 18-7, and it was the goaltender’s brilliance, which gave the Cats the chance to win. Finally, Tyler Pietrowski roofed home the game-tying-goal from point-blank range 13:56 into the third period. The Cats managed to hold off the surging Jackalopes to force overtime, and 3-on-3 sudden death took hold. With four of the five minutes gone by in extra time, it appeared as though a shootout was on the horizon. However, Seamus Donohue set up Ryan Burnett with an opening between the circles. The Wildcats’ Alternate Captain sniped a shot past Schuch to give the Wildcats their seventh straight victory. Moyse earned his 9th win of the season after stopping 49 of 51 shots. Schuch was dealt the overtime defeat, denying 29 of 32. Boxscore
