Friday Finals: Wings win a wild one over Chill, 7-5

Coulee Region 5 @ Aberdeen 7 - The Aberdeen Wings jumped out to a big lead and held onto it late to earn a win over Coulee Region on Friday at the Odde Ice Center in Aberdeen. The Wings defeated the Chill 7-5 in the North American Hockey League game. Aberdeen had a 5-2 lead entering the third period and led 6-3 midway through the final period before Coulee Region made a late push.  The Chill scored back-to-back goals within a span of five minutes to get within 6-5. The last goal was by James Hughes with 2:13 left. Aberdeen's Mike Parnell then scored an empty net goal with 26 seconds left to reach the final margin.  Aberdeen scored the first two goals. Joseph Sullivan and Tyler Hanzlik scored goals seven minutes into the first period to give the Wings a 2-0 lead. Steve Obarzanek and Mack Ohnsted each scored goals in the first period to give Aberdeen a 4-2 lead after the first frame. Aberdeen's Cory Ward scored the lone goal in the second period to give the Wings a 5-2 lead after the second frame before the Chill scored three goals in the final period.  Ward had Aberdeen's first goal in the third period. The Wings improved to 2-1 against Coulee Region this season. Aberdeen goalkeeper Frederick Leisner had 29 saves. Boxscore

Bismarck 8 @ Minot 3 – Dan Zawacki had a hat-trick and Patrick Moore had two goals and an assist as the Bobcats became the second NAHL team to 20 wins with a convincing win at Minot.  Frank DeAugustine, Nick Turbitt and Tyler Richter also had multi-point games. Boxscore

Austin 4 @ Alexandria 1 – Tyler Bruggeman made 36 saves as the Austin Bruins cooled off the red-hot Alexandria Blizzard.  Newcomer Ilya Arkalov scored the game-winning goal as the Bruins jumped out to a 3-0 lead.  Thomas Williams score the lone goal for the Blizzard. Boxscore

Dawson Creek 3 @ Wenatchee 4 (OT) – Chris Knudson scored the OT winner on a one-timer from a pass from newcomer Blake Roubos in a game in which Wenatchee outshot Dawson Creek, 45-24.  Ben Carey scored twice and Chris Kerr added a goal and an assist in the Wild’s win. Boxscore

Amarillo 2 @ Fresno 3 (SO) – The Monsters took down the league’s top team in a shootout thanks to 36 saves from Tomas Sholl, including stopping six of seven shooters in the shootout.  Petr Mainer had both goals in regulation for Fresno and former Bulls player Kyle Sucher scored the shootout winner for the Monsters. Boxscore

Kenai River 4 @ Alaska 5 – The 1st place Avalanche erased a 3-0 deficit and scored three goals in the 3rd period to top the Brown Bears in Palmer Friday night.  Jordan Watt had the game-winning goal and an assist and Evan Hesse had three points as Alaska’s lead in the West increased to five points. Boxscore

Texas 0 @ New Mexico 2 – Despite a 44-23 shots advantage, Texas could not solve New Mexico goalie Randy Graham, who posted his second straight shutout.  Charles Baldwin scored the game-winning goal and Patrick Anderson added the other marker for the Mustangs, who have won four of their last five. Boxscore

Wichita Falls 4 @ Odessa 3 (SO) – It took a combined 18 shooters, but the Wildcats finally got the best of the Jacks on the road for the shootout win.  Brad Shumway tied the game for Wichita Falls with just over two minutes remaining.  Matt Leon made 31 saves in the win while Connor Hellebuyck made 45 saves in the shootout loss. Boxscore

Chicago 5 @ Janesville 3 – The Hitmen snapped an eight-game skid thanks to four, 3rd period goals en route to a road win in Janesville.  Zach Schrotenboer was the hero for the Hitmen as he scored two goals and added two assists in the win. Boxscore

Topeka 3 @ Corpus Christi 2 (OT) – Brian Christie’s second goal of the game came off a face-off as time expired in overtime, as the RoadRunners topped the IceRays in overtime.  Collin Montgomery added the other goal for the ‘Runners, while Corpus Christi was led by two points from Joe Ginley in the losing effort. Boxscore

St. Louis 4 @ Springfield 0 – Spencer Viele stopped all 24 shots for his third shutout of the season as St. Louis won their seventh game in a row.  Rance Hughes had the game-winner and Stephen Bopp, Frank Dichiara, Joe Birmingham, Joe Kalisz and Taylor Wolfe all had multi-point nights. Boxscore

Kalamazoo 2 @ Michigan 1 – Ken MacLean made 22 saves and Nick Kovalchik scored the game-winning goal while shorthanded as Kalamazoo continued their dominance over the Warriors this season.  The Jr. K-Wings are now 5-0 against Michigan this year. Boxscore

Port Huron 2 @ Traverse City 4 – With all six combined goals coming in the 2nd period, it was the North Stars who came out on top with a 4-2 win.  Kyle Laslo made 31 saves and Traverse City got goals from Kyle Schempp, Kyle Froese, Kyle Loridon and Will Badner. Boxscore