Friday Finals: Titans, Wolverines punch tickets to Robertson Cup
New Mexico defenseman Joe Prouty scored on a penalty shot in overtime to help New Mexico even their series against Lone Star.
East Division Finals, Game 4: New Jersey 3 @ Jamestown 2 (3OT) (New Jersey wins series, 3-1) – The Titans advanced to their first ever Robertson Cup Championship as they tied the game in the final moments of regulation and then won early in the third overtime in a 3-2 win over the Rebels. The Titans took an early 1-0 lead thanks to a 1st period goal from Billy Feczko. The Rebels gained control in the 2nd period as they got goals from Noah Szretter and Kolby Amici to take a 2-1 lead into the 2nd intermission. Late in the 3rd period, the Titans tied the game with just 0.8 seconds left as Anthony Calafiore hammered home a one-timer from the slot to knot the game at 2-2. Early in the 3rd overtime, the Titans netted the game and series winner as Stephen Willey converted on a breakaway after a nice breakout pass from goalie Andrew Takacs to send the Titans to their first ever Robertson Cup Championship. Takacs made 34 saves in the win, while Rebels goalie Nolan Suggs was fantastic in the loss, stopping 73 of 76 shots.
Midwest Division Finals, Game 4: Anchorage 5 @ MN Wilderness 1 (Anchorage wins series, 3-1) – In their first season in the NAHL, the Anchorage Wolverines are headed to the Robertson Cup Championship as they captured the Midwest Division Playoff title with a 5-1 win in Game 4 on Friday night in Cloquet, MN, against the Wilderness. Colton Friesen had two goals and Raythan Robbins made 39 saves in the win. The Wolverines got off to a fast start, scoring twice in the game’s first eight minutes as Jackson Reineke and Friesen scored to make it 2-0. After a scoreless 2nd period, the Wilderness pulled to within 2-1 early in the 3rd period thanks to a goal from William Persson. However, Anchorage would put the game away with three more goals later in the 3rd period as Andy Ramsey, Bohdan Panasenko, and Friesen would all score to make the final, 5-1. Konrad Kausch made 19 saves in the loss for the Wilderness.
South Division Finals, Game 4: Lone Star 3 @ New Mexico 4 (OT) (Series tied, 2-2) – The Ice Wolves scored late in regulation to force overtime and then got the game-winner thanks to a rare penalty shot in overtime as they came from behind to beat the Brahmas, 4-3 and tie the series at 2-2. The Brahmas snagged the early lead in the 1st period as they led 2-1 thanks to a pair of goals from Logan Tobias, while Dilan Bentley scored for New Mexico. The Ice Wolves tied the game at 2-2 in the 2nd period thanks to a goal from Evan Carroll. The Brahmas would regain the lead early in the 3rd period thanks to a goal from Artur Turansky. The Ice Wolves tied the game late as Carroll connected on a 3-on-2 for his second goal of the game to make it 3-3. In the overtime, New Mexico defenseman Joe Prouty got free on a breakaway and was tripped up resulting in a penalty shot, which he would then convert for the overtime-winner. New Mexico goalie Beni Halasz made 39 saves in the win, while Arthur Smith made 20 saves and John Spicer made 2 saves in the loss.
Central Division Finals, Game 3: St. Cloud 3 @ Aberdeen 2 (3OT) (St. Cloud leads series, 2-1) – St. Cloud’s Broten Sabo scored his 4th goal of the playoffs late in the 3rd overtime to give the Norsemen a 3-2 win in Game 3 and 2-1 series lead over the Wings. The Norsemen took an early 1-0 lead thanks to a 1st period goal from Jackson Hughes less than three minutes into the game. Aberdeen equalized later in the period as Jacob Bosse scored to make it 1-1. The Norsemen regained their one-goal lead early in the 2nd period as Gramm McCormack netted his first goal of the playoffs to make it 2-1. The Wings would again respond, this time just :20 seconds later as a goal from Will Gilson made it 2-2. After three more scoreless periods, the Norsemen would end the game in triple overtime as Sabo converted on an odd-man rush. Tomas Bolo made 44 saves in the win, while Anton Castro (57 saves on 59 shots) and Greg Orosz (10 saves on 11 shots) played in the loss.
