Ice Wolves Erupt For Giant Comeback
Andrew Earl (top) scored twice including the game winner in the New Mexico victory. Adam Ondris (bottom) also had two goals in a win for the Tomahawks
Northeast 3 @ Johnstown 5 - The Johnstown Tomahawks got off to a hot start and a strong third period helped seal a 5-3 win over the Northeast Generals. Cullen Emery and Adam Ondris scored less than five minutes into the game to put the Tomahawks in front. Finnegan Connor would bring Northeast within one heading into the first intermission. In the final frame, the Generals would tie the game with Jospeh McGraw scoring his 10th of the season. Ondris and Charlie Zetterkvist scored goals 67 seconds apart to put Johnstown back up by two. Dallas Potter added his third of the year for insurance before Benjamin Campeau scored to back things somewhat interesting in the final minutes. Zack Ferris got the win in net with 31 saves. Aiden McKenna took the loss as he stopped 22 of 27 shots.
El Paso 5 @ New Mexico 7 - Six third period goals helped fuel a sensational comeback for the New Mexico Ice Wolves as they defeated the El Paso Rhinos 7-5. The Rhinos dominated the first half of the game as Paavo Hiltunen, Rasmus Nousiainen and Ty Gordon all scored in the opening period. Beckett Hinchsliff added to the lead early in the second period. Bryce Johnson started the comeback with his 10th of the season and that sent the Ice Wolves to the locker room down by three. The Ice Wolves then got white hot in the third. Jace Erickson got it started with a goal just 33 seconds into the final frame to make the game 4-2. Nayan Pai and Andrew Earl scored back to back goals to even the game at four. The tie would last 35 seconds as Toivo Laaksonen scored his fourth of the season to give New Mexico their first lead of the game. Nousiainen would bring the game back even with his second of the night for El Paso. Then in the closing minutes Earl netted his second of the period to put New Mexico back up by one. Laaksonen would add an empty netter in the final seconds to ensure the Ice Wolves would skate away with an exciting victory. Jackson Fuller was the winner in goal with 18 saves while Matthew DellaRusso was given the loss as he finished with 31 saves.
