Ice Dogs, Nordiques win close games on Thursday
Maine goalie Tyriq Outen made 40 saves in a 3-2 shootout win on Thursday.
Austin 4 @ Fairbanks 5 – The Ice Dogs built an early lead and held off a furious Bruins rally to pick up a 5-4 win in their debut at their temporary home in Marshall, MN. Things were going the Ice Dogs way through the 1st and most of the 2nd periods. In the 1st period, the Ice Dogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Mason Plante and Jake Hale, who each scored their 2nd goals of the season respectively. Early in the 2nd period, the lead for the Ice Dogs swelled to 4-0 as Andrew Garby scored his first goal of the season and Jasper Lester scored his second goal of the season. Late in the period, Austin showed signs of life thanks to a goal from Barrett Brooks to make it 4-1. The Ice Dogs lead went back to four early in the 3rd period as Brendan Miles scored on the power play to put the Ice Dogs ahead, 5-1. The Bruins mounted a comeback in the 3rd period, which included goals from Reggie Millette, Jens Richards, and John Lundy, but could not find the equalizer in the final moments of the game. Ice Dogs goalie Kayden Hargraves made 16 saves in the win. Hudson Hodges took the loss, making 14 saves.
Maine 3 @ Maryland 2 (SO) - It was an impressive duel of the goalies Thursday afternoon. Maryland goalie Michael Morelli made 42 saves through 60 minutes of regulation and five minutes of overtime while Maine goalie Tyriq Outen made 40 saves at the other end. And after a nine round shootout, it was the Maine Nordiques winning its second game in a row taking the contest in a 3-2 shootout win. The first two periods were low scoring and saw a goal a piece from each side. Black Bears' defenseman Aidan McDowell got the scoring starting in the first period when he fired a wrist shot through a screen to make it 1-0. However, the second period went the Nordiques' way when its goalie Tyriq Outen made a big save on a Maryland three-on-one rush. Maine forward Isaiah Fox took the puck back the other way and put a slap shot in the back of the net to tie it at 1-1. In the third period, it was Black Bears' defenseman Cam Gaudette scoring on a wrist shot goal from the top of the near circle to make it 2-1 Maryland. Maine responded when defenseman Cooper Swift scored from the point to tie the game 2-2. The game went to an intense overtime period and after that passed with no goals, the game went to a shootout. Maryland forward Josh Waters scored first in the shootout followed by Maine forward Isaiah Fox to tie it after three round 1-1. It took nine rounds until Nordiques defenseman Casper Soderling broke the tie in the top of the ninth round. Outen made one final stop for Maine against Maryland forward Luke Mountain to end the game with a 3-2 win for the Nordiques.
