Ice Wolves Keep Season Alive With Game 3 Win
The Ice Wolves will live to see Game 4 after their thrilling double OT win in Game 3. (Photos courtesy of Zach Price)
Lone Star 3 @ New Mexico 4 (2OT) (South Division Semifinals, Lone Star Leads Series 2-1): Rasmus Leijonhielm kept the New Mexico Ice Wolves season alive as he deflected the game winning goal in double overtime to send the Outpost Ice Arena into a frenzy. Despite blowing a two goal lead late, Leijonhielm’s goal lifted the Ice Wolves to a 4-3 win. Ethan Hull got the scoring started in the first period. Then in the second Justin Kerr and Luca Ricci traded goals to give New Mexico a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes. Late in third, Ryan Seelinger netted an insurance goal for New Mexico but the Brahmas wouldn’t go down quietly. With the goalie pulled and the extra attacker on the ice, Lone Star netted two goals in the final minutes, one coming off the stick of Justin Kerr and the game tying goal being scored by Ivan Zadvernyuk. After a scoreless first overtime, the game winner came on a seemingly innocent play as a point shot was lofted into traffic but that’s where Leijonhielm was to get a stick on it to beat Jack Wieneke. Andy Vlaha had to be sensational and he was as he finished the night with 42 saves. Weineke suffered the tough loss as he made 25 saves for the Brahmas.
