Saturday Scores: Minotauros, Knights, Mudbugs take 2-0 series leads

April 29, 2018

Central Division Finals, Game 2: Minot 3 @ Austin 2 (Minot leads series, 2-0) – The Minot Minotauros erased a 2-0 deficit and scored just minutes into overtime to win Game 2, 3-2 and take a 2-0 series lead, which will now head back to Minot next weekend for Game 3. It appeared as Austin was set on tying the series, as they got the first two goals in a :27 second span in the opening period as Evan Cholak scored his second goal of the playoffs and Levi Stauber netted his first quickly after Cholak’s goal. The Minotauros would respond and gain the momentum back as David Raisenen found the back of the net with less than a second remaining in the 1st period. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Minotauros found the equalizer early in the 3rd period as Taylor Lantz scored his first goal of the playoffs to make it 2-2. In the overtime, some hard working forechecking got the puck to Raisenen in the slot, who put a shot past goal Alex Schilling for the game-winner and second goal of the night. Raisenen, who had eight points during the regular season, now has four points in the playoffs. Samu Lonkila made 32 saves in the win, while Schilling made 23 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 

East Division Finals, Game 2: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 5 @ Philadelphia 4 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton leads series 2-0) – Jack Olmstead scored twice as the Knights put up five goals for the second straight game to take a 2-0 series lead back home against the Rebels thanks to a 5-4 win on Saturday in Game 2. Things were deadlocked at 2-2 after a very active opening 1st period as Jimmy Glynn and Brandon Stanley scored the Rebels, while Olmstead and Curtis Carlson scored for the Knights. The Knights then took command in the 2nd period with three goals including another from Olmstead and others from Jeff Bertrand and Tyrone Bronte. The Rebels tried to make a game of things with two goals in the 3rd period, which included another from Stanley and one from Aaron Maguyon, but could not find the equalizer. Knights goalie Christian Stoever picked up his 4th straight win, making 30 saves, while Rebels starter Eli Billing made 15 saves and allowed four goals before being pulled for Ryan Keane, who stopped 9 of 10 shots. Boxscore

 

Midwest Division Finals, Game 2: Janesville 2 @ Fairbanks 3 (Series tied 1-1) – Fairbanks defenseman Nolan Schaeffer wired home a shot from the point with just 3.6 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Ice Dogs a 3-2 win in Game 2 and tie the best of five series at 1-1. After a scoreless 1st period, the Jets got on the board first thanks to the third goal of the playoffs from the NAHL’s scoring champion, Jakov Novak. The Ice Dogs responded with two goals in four minutes to take a 2-1 lead to the lockerroom as Robert Bluegger and Samuel Ruffin found the back of the net. In the 3rd period, Sam Renlund scored his 5th goal of the playoffs to make it a 2-2 game. As the game appeared headed to overtime, Schaeffer blasted a slap shot from the blueline that went through traffic and over the glove of Jets goalie Garrett Nieto for the game-winner. Logan Neaton got the start in goal for Fairbanks and made 19 saves in the win, while Nieto made 28 saves in loss. Boxscore

South Division Finals, Game 2: Lone Star 1 @ Shreveport 2 (Shreveport leads series, 2-0) – Thanks to two goals in the 3rd period, the Shreveport Mudbugs took home a 2-1 win and 2-0 series lead in the best of five South Division Finals against the Lone Star Brahmas. As was the case in Game 1, both goalies were brick walls in periods 1 and 2, as Mudbugs netminder Jaxon Castor made 19 saves and Lone Star’s Mitchell Gibson made 23 saves. The Mudbugs would take a 1-0 lead midway through the 3rd period as Friday’s hero, Jordan Fader, scored his second goal of the playoffs. The Brahmas had an answer for their first goal of the series as Steven Ipri potted his first goal of the playoffs. With just over three minutes remaining in regulation, the Mudbugs found more late game heroics as Roberts Baranovskis danced through the defense and slipped one past Gibson for a 2-1 win. Castor made 23 saves in the win, while Gibson made 30 saves in the loss. Boxscore