Friday Finals: Maust's career night leads Knights to win
Derek Schaedig made 28 saves in his first NAHL action since December 3rd as the Jets won their 7th straight game with a 2-1 win in Coulee Region.
Kenai River 4 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7 – Paul Maust scored four goals and added an assist as the Knights beat the Brown Bears, 7-4. After an opening goal from Kenai River’s Luke Radetic, the Knights scored four straight goals to take a 4-1 lead early in the 3rd period including two from Maust and others from Khristian Acosta and Andrew Jackson. Maust added two more goals later in the 3rd to complete his memorable night and Reed Robinson also scored for the Knights. Other Brown Bears goals came from Ethan Stewart, Jake Friedman and Evan Butcher. Colt Hanks made 18 saves in the win. Boxscore
Fairbanks 1 @ Johnstown 5 – Donovan Ott scored twice and Drew Hotte made 26 saves to help Johnstown’s winning streak reach seven straight games thanks to a 5-1 home win over the Ice Dogs. Fairbanks opened the scoring just over a minute into the game on a tally from Hunter Wendt, but it was all Tomahawks after that as they scored three times in the 1st period to take a 3-1 lead on goals from Christopher Trouba, Logan Stork and Ott. Ott would add his second of the game in the 2nd period and Dalton Hunter added a 3rd period goal. Boxscore
Janesville 2 @ Coulee Region 1 – Derek Schaedig made 28 saves in his first NAHL action since December 3rd as the Jets won their 7th straight game with a 2-1 win in Coulee Region. The Jets opened the scoring with a 1st period goal from Peter Bates, his 15th of the season. The lead swelled to 2-0 for Janesville with a late 2nd period goal from Chris Dodero. Before the period was done, the Chill would answer with their lone tally of the game from Isaac Theisen. Brad Arvanitis played well in goal for the Chill in his NAHL debut, making 37 saves. Boxscore
Aberdeen 4 @ Brookings 3 (OT) – Colin Raver scored with just :13 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Aberdeen Wings a 4-3 win in Brookings on Friday. Aberdeen led three times, only to see the Blizzard answer after each one goal lead. The Wings got a 1st period goal from Gage Mackie and two goals in the 2nd period from Kevin Fitzgerald and Carson Dimoff. The Blizzard countered with goals from Nicholas Cardelli, Tim Faulkner and Cade Borchardt. Raver’s overtime-winner came after rush up the ice and a slick forehand to backhand move. Forbes Ploszaj made 24 saves in the win, while Josh Boyko made 36 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Amarillo 3 @ Odessa 4 – Four different players scored and Tyler Pietrowski had three assists as the Jacks snapped the Bulls three-game winning streak with a 4-3 home win on Friday. After an opening goal in the 1st period from Amarillo’s George Mika, the Jackalopes seized control of the game with four straight goals, including three in the 2nd period from Zach Heintz, Christian Hausinger and Chase Thudium and another in the 3rd period from Ryan MacKellar. The Bulls closed the gap to 4-3 with 3rd period goals from Jeff Solow and another from Mika, but could not find the equalizer. Jon Flakne made 32 saves in the win, while Nikita Babintsev made 44 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Wichita Falls 3 @ Topeka 1 – Jared Dempsey made 38 saves to lead the visiting Wildcats to a 3-1 win in Topeka on Friday. Wichita Falls never trailed in the game as Ricky Carballo opened the scoring in the 1st period with his 12th goal of the season. The Wildcats added two more goals in 2nd period as Domantas Cypas and Steven Tillie both scored. Dempsey’s shutout bid was spoiled with just over five minutes remaining in regulation as Max Harper scored the lone RoadRunners goals. Topeka goalie Ryan Snowden made 36 saves in the loss. Boxscore
Austin 5 @ MN Wilderness 4 (OT) – The Bruins never led in the game until the overtime-winner as AJ Drobot converted on a mistake behind the Wilderness net to give the Bruins a 5-4 win on the road. The Wilderness had leads of 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3, but could not hold them. The Bruins got two goals from Jan Stefka and others from Paul O’Connor and Travis Kothenbeutel in regulation. Minnesota goal their goals from Ryan Peterson and Dylan Mills in the 1st period and Tyler Vold and Dylan Mills in the 2nd period. Alex Schilling made 37 saves in the win, while Trevor Micucci made 48 saves in the overtime loss. Boxscore
Bismarck 3 @ Minot 6 – The Minotauros won their third straight game and increased their Central Division lead to six points thanks to a 6-3 home win over the Bobcats. Minot opened up a 3-1 lead after two periods thanks to goals from Derek Frentz and Tyler Jeanson in the 1st period and Austin Dollimer in the 2nd period. Cooper Haar kept the Bobcats in striking distance with a goal late in the 1st period. Minot put the game out of reach in the 3rd period as Jeanson added his second goal of the game and Zack Bross also scored to make it 5-1. Dollimer would add his second of the game later in the period for Minot’s 6th goal. Jared Resseguie and Nick Alexander had the other Bobcats goals. Austin Park made 23 saves in the win for Minot, while Shane Brancato made 34 saves in the loss for the Bobcats, which was his NAHL debut. Boxscore
