Ice Dogs, Brahmas, Jets sweep their way to Division Finals
April 21, 2018
Grayson Gavin was the overtime hero to help Corpus Christi take Game 4, 3-2 in overtime to tie up their South Division Semi-Final series against Shreveport. Game 5 is Sunday.
Midwest Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Fairbanks 4 @ MN Magicians 3 (Fairbanks wins series, 3-0) – The overall number one seed in the Robertson Cup playoffs is moving to the Midwest Division Finals. The Ice Dogs scored two goals in the final five minutes to come back and earn the victory. Hunter Wendt and Connor Chilton each had a goal and an assist in the series-clinching win. Samuel Ruffin and Luke Mobley also scored for the Dogs. Josh Benson stopped 18 shots put on him by the Magicians. For Minnesota, Davis Kirkendall netted a pair of goals while Cameron Buhl had the other. Isaiah Saville made 26 saves for the Magicians.
South Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Lone Star 4 @ Odessa 1 (Lone Star wins series, 3-0) – The defending Robertson Cup champions are back into the South Division Finals as they took care of the Odessa Jackalopes 4-1 in Game 3. Frankie Trazzera got the scoring started in the 1st period, Connor Stuart would join him on the scoresheet just before the first 20 minutes expired. Kyle Hallbauer and Owen Farris added goals as well for Lone Star. Mitchell Gibson was great once again as he allowed just one goal on 28 shots. Blake Bride scored the only goal for Odessa and Brett Epp made 23 saves in the loss.
Midwest Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Janesville 1 @ Springfield 0 (Janesville wins series, 3-0) – Jakov Novak’s goal just 84 seconds into Game 3 proved to be enough for the Janesville Jets as they completed their sweep of the Springfield Jr. Blues. It was Novak’s first of the postseason after leading the NAHL with 73 points in the regular season. Erik Palmqvist and Sam Renlund picked up the assists. Garrett Nieto picked up his second shutout of the series as he made 20 saves in the victory. Evan Fear did all he could for his club as he stopped 27 of 28 Janesville shots.
South Division Semi-Finals, Game 4: Shreveport 2 @ Corpus Christi 3 (OT) (Series tied, 2-2) – Grayson Gavin’s goal at the 11:43 mark of overtime kept the Ice Rays season alive and forced a decisive Game 5, coming on Sunday in Shreveport. Brendan Miller scored with 1:08 remaining in the third period to force the extra frame. Adam Kadlec also scored for the IceRays. Chad Veltri stopped 36 shots to pick up his second straight victory. Cole Quisenberry and Gueorgui Feduolov scored for Shreveport while Gustavs Grigals was stuck with the loss despite making 24 saves.
Central Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Austin 2 @ MN Wilderness 3 (Austin leads series, 2-1) – The Wilderness are living to see another day as Luke Dow and Alex Spencer each had a goal and an assist in Minnesota’s 3-2 triumph over Austin. Gino Lucia also tickled the twine for the Wilderness and Jacob Sibell picked up the win as he made 38 saves. Valdemar Ahlberg continued his hot play as he scored and also contributed on a goal scored by Che Landikusic. Alex Schilling took the loss in Game 3 as he made 22 saves.
Central Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: Aberdeen 4 @ Minot 1 (Aberdeen leads series, 2-1) – The Aberdeen Wings have pushed the Minot Minotauros to the brink as they grabbed a 4-1 victory in Game 3 of their Central Division Semi-Final. Joe Strada, John Sladic, Nathan Burke and Jonathan Bendorf all found the back of the net in the Wings win. Matt Vernon stopped 24 of 25 shots to pick up his second win of the series. Alex Adams scored for the Minotauros while Samu Lonkila made 26 saves.
East Division Semi-Finals, Game 3: New Jersey 4 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3 (New Jersey leads series, 2-1) – The New Jersey Titans are a win away from the East Division Finals as they outlasted the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights by a score of 4-3. Gavin Gulash, Andrew Husted, Tate Singleton and Wade Novak all lit the lamp in the Game 3 victory. Matt Ladd made 28 stops in between the pipes for the Titans. Gabe Temple had a goal and an assist for the Knights while Curtis Carlson and Michael Morrissey also found the back of the net for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Christian Stoever stopped 29 shots for the Knights.
