Team NAHL picks up 3-1 win in first and only exhibition game

August 19, 2019

 

 

Thanks to the solid netminding of Team NAHL goaltenders Mattias Sholl (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) and Jack Williams (Springfield Jr. Blues), the NA picked up a 3-1 win over the hometown Krylya Sovetov junior hockey team of the MHL.

 

The NA players had a rough time getting going in the 1st period, but thanks to Sholl the game remained scoreless. That included killing three Krylya Sovetov power plays, which has highlighted by a split save from Sholl on a backdoor pass.

 

The 2nd period began with both teams having plenty of chances. Krylya Sovetov, which translates into Soviet Wings, got on the board first as a broken play led to an odd-man rush for Krylya Sovetov and a second chance rebound goal netted the home side a 1-0 lead. Later in the 2nd period, Team NAHL got on the board as a nice rush up the ice by Andrew DeCarlo (Lone Star Brahmas) saw him slip a backhand shot on goal, which was saved, but the rebound bounced to the low slot where forward Max Borst (Maryland Black Bears), swooped in off a line change and popped the puck over the Russian goalie to tie the game at 1-1 at the end of two periods.

 

Team NAHL dominated the 3rd period, which included several big stops from Williams, who came in midway though the game. The NA took a 2-1 lead midway through the period as Brandon Lajoie (Kenai River Brown Bears) converted on a 2 on 1 break up the ice with a nicely placed wrist shot over the goalie’s blocker side. A few minutes later, another odd man rush up the ice led to a shot from Austin Jouppi (Bismarck Bobcats), which was stopped, but as the puck was sitting on the goal line, forward Nate Horn (Minnesota Wilderness) skated in and put the puck in the empty net for a 3-1 win.