Minotauros Punch Playoff Ticket With Shootout Win
Colby Woogk's game winner helped the Minotauros clinch a playoff berth
Bismarck 2 @ Minot 3 (SO): Colby Woogk netted the game deciding goal and the Minot Minotauros clinched their spot in the Robertson Cup playoffs as they defeated Bismarck 3-2. Will Dawson and Colby Bear got Minot out to a 2-0 lead but Tamas Toth brought the game within one heading into the third and then Matthew Rafalski tied the game with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation forcing overtime. After a scoreless three-on-three period, we went to a shootout. Both teams scored in the first and third rounds but it was Woogk’s goal in the fifth round that gave the Minotauros the extra point and victory. Brady James stopped 37 shots in the blue paint for Minot to earn the win. Klayton Knapp turned aside 28 of the 30 shots he faced.
New Jersey 5 @ Philadelphia 4 (SO): The New Jersey Titans pulled off an impressive comeback as they downed the Philadelphia Rebels 5-4 in a shootout. Bryce Strand and Jared Coccimigilio put Philadelphia up 2-0 before Nikita Meshcheryakov brought New Jersey within one. Charles Panchisin and Sonny Dinubile increased the Philly lead to 4-1 early in the third but that’s when the Titans flipped the switch. Dominik Bartecko, Jack Hillier and Matt Henry all lit the lamp in the final period to tie the game and force overtime. There was no scoring in overtime and the first three rounds of the skills competition. It was Meshcheryakov in round four that beat Jakub Krbecek and delivered the win for the Titans. Zakari Brice stopped 29 shots in 65 minutes of action and denied all four shooters he faced in the shootout. Krbecek made 29 saves for Philadelphia in the loss.
