Friday Finals: Fresno snaps streak with dramatic OT win

Wenatchee 1 @ Fresno 2 – The Fresno Monsters got back to their winning ways in front of a crowd of over 4,500 fans the Selland Arena in Fresno, Calif., as they defeated the Wenatchee Wild 2-1 in a thrilling overtime game.  The Monsters took a 1-0 lead 5:20 into the contest on defenseman Jesse Durfee’s slap shot from the near point. Brendan Bradley earned the primary assist, setting up Durfee from the near corner. Jeffrey McMinimy also assisted. The Wild’s Shawn Pauly forced a 1-1 tie when he banged in a rebound from the near post off of Ben Carey’s shot from the far side of the ice during a 2-man advantage near the midpoint of the frame. Chris Kerr picked up the second assist.  Wild netminder Robert Nichols who made 25 saves on 27 total shots, faced a penalty shot and a 2-on-1 later in the third stanza. The Monsters went on to win 3:19 into the overtime session when newcomer Chris Blessing scored from the slot on a feed from Bradley. Brett Blomgren also assisted.  For Fresno, Bradley led his team with a goal and an assist while goaltender Tomas Sholl made 24 saves on 25 shots. Pauly’s power-play marker was the only special teams goal of the game. Wenatchee went 1-for-3 on its power plays while Fresno went 0-for-3.  It was Fresno’s first win in eight games. Boxscore

Janesville 3 @ Coulee Region 4 (SO) – The Chill snapped a six-game skid and a four-game goalless drought with a shootout win over Janesville.  Chill goalie Aaron Davis stopped all five shooters in the shootout and made 30 saves.  Tony Kujava made 31 saves for the Jets.  Boxscore

Michigan 2 @ Jamestown 8 – The Ironmen routed the Warriors on the strength of four, 3rd period goals.  Nick Bingeman and Jake Pollock led the way for Jamestown, each recording three points.  Jamestown outshot the Warriors 52-25 in front of their largest home crowd to date. Boxscore

Port Huron 2 @ Traverse City 4 – On a night the North Stars honored the military and the Coast Guard, Traverse City doubled up Port Huron thanks to multi-point games from Will Badner, Alexander Taulien and Sean Murphy.  Kyle Laslo made 19 saves in the win in front of Traverse City’s largest home crowd of the season. Boxscore

New Mexico 4 @ Corpus Christi 5 (SO) – Travis Maxwell scored twice in regulation and then the deciding goal in the shootout as the IceRays came from behind at home to top the Mustangs.  Charles Baldwin had two goals for New Mexico in a game that featured 20 combined shooters in the shootout to decide the game.  Boxscore

Texas 1 @ Odessa 2 (SO) – Despite a 48-33 shots advantage, Texas could only manage to get one shot past Jacks goalie Connor Hellebuyck, as Willie Faust and Jalen Krogman scored in the shootout to give Odessa the shootout win over the Tornado. Reid Mimmack made 31 saves in the loss for Texas, their league-leading sixth in OT or a shootout. Boxscore

Amarillo 6 @ Topeka 2 – On the strength of four, 3rd period goals the 1st place Bulls handled the RoadRunners in Topeka, 6-2.  Ryan White scored both goals for the RoadRunners, but it would not be enough as Mike Davis scored twice for Amarillo, who also registered a power play and shorthanded goal. Mike Taffe made 17 saves for the win. Boxscore

Aberdeen 1 @ Alexandria 4 – The Blizzard and goaltender Jacob Meyers continued their hot play with a win over the Wings in front of the largest crowd of the season in Alexandria.  Meyers made 30 saves and Gage Torrel and Jack McFarlane each had multi-point games as the Blizzard stayed in 2nd place in the Central.  Boxscore

Austin 3 @ Minot 0 – Nicholas Lehr stopped all 27 Minotauros shots for his 2nd shutout of the season as Austin blanked Minot.  Austin Nelson scored the game-winning goal and Brandon Wahlin and John Kirby had multi-point games for the Bruins. Jake Hebda made 24 saves in the loss for Minot. Boxscore

Dawson Creek 3 @ Fairbanks 6 – In front of another packed house in Fairbanks, eight different Ice Dogs players had multi-point games in a 6-3 win.  Max Birkinbine scored twice and Tayler Munson had the game-winning goal for the Ice Dogs.  Ryan Matthews scored twice in the losing effort for the Rage. Boxscore

Alaska 6 @ Kenai River 4 – In a match-up of the top two teams in the West, it was the 1st place Avalanche who continued to impress with their eighth straight win.  Mitch Kontny and Jeff Bergh each had two goals in the win for the Avs.  Connor Wright and Brandon Brossoit also had a goal and assist apiece in the win. Boxscore