Friday Finals: Wild stay unbeaten with win in Bismarck

Wenatchee Wild 3 @ Bismarck Bobcats 1 – Tied 1-1 early in the third period Friday, the Wenatchee Wild scored two short-handed goals during Bismarck’s power play and held on down the stretch for a 3-1 win at the VFW Sports Center in Bismarck, N.D.  Bobcat Joe Giordano drew first blood near the middle of the first frame Friday when he scored on a well-placed high wrist shot from the near wall. Giordano’s goal was aided by a perfect screen in front of Wild goaltender Robert Nichols and assisted by Adam Knochenmus and Jeremy O’Keefe. The Wild tied up the contest, 1-1, two minutes and three seconds into the second period when Chris Kerr knocked in a rebound off Dylan Abood’s shot from the point during a man-advantage. Wenatchee’s first short-handed goal was sparked on a Bismarck turnover at the Wild blue line. A 3-on-2 ensued and Kerr finished off the play by tapping in his second marker of the contest.  Moments later, Jono Davis scored Wenatchee’s second straight shorty when he picked off a break-out pass at the middle of the Bobcat blue line and buried a 5-hole shot on a breakaway. Boxscore

Jamestown Ironmen 3 @ Soo Eagles 4 (OT) – Alex Taulien scored in overtime to complete a three-goal comeback as the Soo Eagles edged out a 4-3 home win over the Jamestown Ironmen.  The Ironmen led 3-1 with goals from Daniel Cesarz, Evan Ritt and Dylan Zink.  However the Eagles clawed back with two goals from Michael Covach and another from Michael Lant. Covach’s second goal came with just :10 seconds remaining in regulation to force the overtime and Taulien’s heroics. Boxscore

Fresno Monsters 5 @ Minot Minotauros 4 – Sean Kalbak had two goals including the game-winner with under two minutes remaining in the game to give Fresno a 5-4 road win in Minot to keep the Minotauros winless.  Minot had a 4-2 lead at one point with goals from Tim Donohue, Mason Morelli, Cody Milligan and Cameron Rowat, but Fresno scored the last three goals, including two from Kalbak, two from Gordon Wells and the other from Kyle Sucher.  Fresno outshot the Minotauros 43-24. Boxscore

Topeka RoadRunners 8 @ Corpus Christi IceRays 4 – It was a wild opening night in Corpus Christi, but RoadRunner forward Kyle Sharkey stole the show registering a hat-trick and adding two assists for a five-point night in a 8-4 win.  The IceRays led 2-1 after the 1st period, but after that it was all Sharkey and the RoadRunners as they scored five straight in the 2nd period on their way to the win.  James Ring scored twice and Sean Gaffney had three points in the win.  Rudy Sulmonte had a goal and an assist in the loss for Corpus Christi. Boxscore

Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3 @ Springfield Jr. Blues 2 – No report at press time

Kenai River Brown Bears 2 @ Janesville Jets 3 (SO) – No report at press time

Aberdeen Wings 2 @ Brookings Blizzard 3 – No report at press time