Playoff Friday: Richter leads Bismarck to Game 1 win

Aberdeen 2 @ Bismarck 7 (Bismarck leads series, 1-0) - The Bismarck Bobcats used a six-goal third period, paced by a Tyler Richter hat trick, to rally past the Aberdeen Wings for a 7-2 rout Saturday at the VFW Sports Center, giving the Cats a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five Central Division Semifinals.  Tied 1-1 through two periods, Richter gave the top-seeded Bobcats their first lead of the night a mere 13 seconds into the third on a one-timer to make it 2-1 for the home side.  Richter’s go-ahead goal wouldn’t hold up very long, however, as Steve Obarzanek evened the score at 2-2 on an Aberdeen power play.  The Bobcats, however, responded as Castan Sommer launched a high shot that deflected off a pair of sticks in front to give the Bobcats the lead back at 3-2 just 89 seconds after Obarzanek tied it.  Both sides battled to a deadlock over the next nine-plus minutes until Adam Knochenmus hit Shane Omdahl at the side of the Aberdeen net on the rush and Omdahl danced around a poke attempt from Wings goalie Marcus Zelzer and spun home a backhander with 3:54 left in regulation to double the lead to 4-2.  Just 23 seconds later, Richter notched his second of the night after Zelzer made an eye-popping save but failed to control the rebound, which Richter slammed in to extend the lead to 5-2.  Aberdeen pulled Zelzer with two minutes to go to try and effort a late rally, but Buster Hebda fought through the Wings neutral zone defense to skid a 100-foot shot into the empty Wings net to push the lead to 6-2.  The Bobcats, though, were not done yet as Richter ripped a low wrister under the glove of Zelzer to give the game its final 7-2 margin.  It was Aberdeen who struck first, just 3:21 into the game, as Paul Prescott chipped a Kevin Becker faceoff win over Bobcat goalie Tommy Burke’s right leg to make it 1-0 Wings.  The Bobcats answered with 5:25 to go in the first on their first power play of the night as Danny Ray found a soft spot in the Aberdeen penalty kill and picked the corner over Zelzer’s glove to tie the game at one. Neither team was able to score in the second before Richter triggered the Bobcats’ offensive explosion to start the third.  Burke made 25 saves to secure his third career playoff win. Zelzer turned in 46 stops in his playoff debut but was saddled with the loss. Boxscore

Austin 4 @ Alexandria 2 (Austin leads series, 1-0) – Austin won their first ever NAHL playoff game as Tyler Bruggeman made 39 saves in a 4-2 win in Alexandria on Friday.  The teams traded goals in the 1st period as Jeremy Finger scored for Austin and Jordan Krebsbach scored for the Blizzard.  The Bruins opened up the game in the 2nd period with goals from Chris Fischer and Colton Kramer.  John Kirby scored in the 3rd period for Austin to put the game away after a goal from Alexandria’s Justin Moody. Boxscore

Coulee Region 0 @ St. Louis 5 (St. Louis leads series, 1-0) – Tyler Green had to make just 15 saves as the Bandits blanked the Chill in Game 1, 5-0.  St. Louis outshot Coulee Region 40-15 and after a three-goal 1st period, the game was in the books for the Bandits.  Joe Kalisz, Rance Hughes and Frank Dichiara all scored in the opening period.  Joe Birmingham added a goal in the 2nd period and Ryan Stouffer scored in the 3rd period. Boxscore

Springfield 2 @ Janesville 0 (Springfield leads series, 1-0) – Tyler Parks was spectacular, stopping all 30 Jets shots as the Jr. Blues took Game 1 of their Midwest Semi-final series on the road, 2-0.  A shorthanded, unassisted goal in the 2nd period from Kyle Cook would turn out to be the game winner and Cody Dixon added an insurance goal on the power play in the 3rd period.  Tony Kujava took the loss for the Jets, making 22 saves. Boxscore

Texas 1 @ Topeka 2 (OT) (Topeka leads series, 1-0) – Jake Lynes took the puck coast to coast 12 minutes into overtime and ripped a wrist shot past Texas goalie Hunter Leisner to give Topeka an early edge in their Semi-Final series with the Tornado.  Marc Biggs gave the Tornado a 1-0 lead in the 1st period, but that was answered back by a power play goal in the 2nd period from Topeka’s Kevin Patterson.  Peter Traber made 25 saves in the win for the ‘Runners. Boxscore

Odessa 2 @ Amarillo 5 (Amarillo leads series, 1-0) – Three, 1st period goals proved to be too much for the Jacks to overcome as the Bulls took an early series lead with a 5-2 win at home over Odessa.  Mike Davis scored twice for the Bulls including the game’s first goal.  Brooks Behling and Luke Jenkins also added 1st period goals to answer an opening goal from Odessa’s Tyler Minx.  Darren Lapic scored in the 3rd period to bring the score to within 4-2, but Geoff Fortman scored to put the game away for the Bulls. Boxscore

Michigan 5 @ Port Huron 2 (Michigan leads series, 1-0) – Three, 2nd period goals proved to be the difference as Michigan upset the #1 seed Fighting Falcons in Game 1 of their North Division Semi-Final series.  AJ White, Michael Economos and Dan Sakalian all scored in the 2nd period to give Michigan the lead.  Joseph Ferriss and Bobby Bodette put the game away with goals in the 3rd period. Kody Polin and Logan Lemirande scored for Port Huron, who was stifled by Michigan’s Trevor Gorsuch, who made 41 saves. Boxscore

Traverse City 0 @ Kalamazoo 4 (Kalamazoo leads series, 1-0) – Ken MacLean stopped all 25 shots as Kalamazoo won their first NAHL playoff game in 18 years since their return to the league this season by shutting out the North Stars, 4-0.  Brandon Flood, Robbie Payne, Jacob McDowell and Austin Hervey scored for the Jr. K-Wings, who fired off 26 shots on Traverse City goaltender Kyle Laslo.  Flood also added an assist in the game for a two point night. Boxscore

Alaska 2 @ Wenatchee 1 (OT) (Series tied, 1-1) – Patrick Kinkopf scored 1:33 into overtime as he put home a point-blank shot to tie the series with Wenatchee, guaranteeing a Game 4 will now be played in the best of five West Semi-Final series.  Alaska outshot Wenatchee 32-17, but it would be the Wild who struck first as Chris Kerr scored a power play goal.  Jeff Bergh answered back in the 3rd period for Alaska setting up the OT.  Bodhi Engum made 16 saves in the win, while Greg Lewis made 30 saves in the loss. Boxscore

Kenai River 0 @ Fairbanks 3 (Fairbanks leads series, 1-0) – The defending Robertson Cup champs opened up their title defense with a 3-0 shutout win at home over the Brown Bears.  Garret Clemment scored twice in the 2nd period to give the Ice Dogs a lead they would never lose.  Anton Racklin added a 3rd period goal for good measure as the Ice Dogs went onto victory behind 28 saves from Alex Fons for the shutout.  Austin Severson made 27 saves in the loss. Boxscore