Brahmas, Blizzard win close games on Thursday night

February 9, 2018

Lone Star 4 @ Corpus Christi 3 - The Lone Star Brahmas opened their road series against the Corpus Christi Icerays with a 4-3 win, extending their winning streak to five straight games. The IceRays opened the scoring with the lone goal in the 1st period as defenseman Blake Coffey walked the blueline to center before winding up and sending a slapshot through a screen and behind Brahmas goalie Mitchell Gibson.The Brahmas got even early in the 2nd period with Kyle Hallbauer and Julian Biondo scoring on a two on one rush shorthanded. Just two minutes later, Steven Ipri controlled the puck behind Jake Acton’s cage before finding Ture Linden on the right wing. Linden quickly sent a centering pass to Jon Russell for a redirect into the net at 4:44. Later in the period, Corpus Christi would cash in on a power play as Jayson Dimizio managed to punch it across the line. The IceRays struck quickly in the third to retake the lead. Grayson Gavin knocked down a clearing attempt and sent it behind the Brahmas’ net where Larry Jungwirth sent a backdoor centering pass to a streaking Brendan Miller. Exactly three minutes after the Icerays took the lead the Brahmas came roaring back on the power play. A shot from Hallbauer was redirected by Ipri over the glove hand of Acton just sour seconds into the man advantage. Lster in the period, the Brahmas netted the game-winner on the power play as Ture Linden sent a beautiful cross ice pass through traffic to Hallbauer for a one timer into the back of the net at 11:28. Gibson made 22 saves in the win, while Acton made 33 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 

Brookings 4 @ Bismarck 3 (OT) – In a back and forth game, the Brookings Blizzard found the back of the net one minute into overtime as they picked up a big road win in Bismarck on Thursday night. The Bobcats got two goals from Joseph Mancuso, including the game’s first goal as he buried a rebound chance on the power play after an initial try from Mitch Walinksi to make it 1-0. The Blizzard then seemingly took control as they scored three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead. First it was Gabriel Wahl converting for his 3rd goal of the season off a Bobcats turnover to make it 1-1 late in the 1st period. In the 2nd period, Vince Marino scored his 12th goal of the season just :56 seconds into the frame to make it 2-1 and then eight minutes later, Max Sasson’s 6th goal of the season made it 3-1. However, the Bobcats stormed back with two goals later in the 2nd period as Mancuso netted his second of the game and Grant Johnson scored his 8th goal of the season to make it 3-3. After a scoreless 3rd period, the Blizzard ended things quickly in OT as some nice stickhandling behind the Bobcats net by Marino got the puck out front to Connor Koviak, who one-timed home the game-winner for his 9th goal of the season. Blizzard goalie Adam Brizgala made 23 saves in the win, while Bobcats goalie Johnny Roberts made 27 saves in the loss. Boxscore