Friday Finals: Mudbugs, Windigo Clinch Playoff Berths

Danbury 3 @ Maryland 2 (OT) - The Danbury Hat Tricks took the first game of the weekend in an upset over the Maryland Black Bears. The first period ended with both teams tied with a goal apiece. Ben Dempster scored first for the Hat Tricks, followed ten minutes later by Thomas Holtby. David Utkin early in the second period scored a power play goal to give the Hat Tricks back the lead, but once again the Black Bears tied later in the period thanks to Isac Nielsen. A scoreless third period sent the game into overtime, with the game winner coming from Brendan Boring for only his second goal of the season. 

Philadelphia 3 @ New Hampshire 2 (OT) - Despite a comeback to tie the game late, the New Hampshire Mountain Kings fell in overtime against the Philadelphia Rebels. The first goal came unassisted from Linas Dedinas, followed by the first goal of the season for Zachary Spagnuolo to give the Rebels a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. The next two periods saw a goal scored in each one by the Mountain Kings. Tommy McDonough cut the lead in half in the second on the power play, followed by team-leading scorer Oli Genest late in the third to tie the game. Going into overtime, the Rebels earned a power play with a holding call on the Mountain Kings, and in the final seconds won with a goal from Caesar Bjork.

Elmira 3 @ Johnstown 4 - The Johnstown Tomahawks narrowly avoided overtime against the Elmira Aviators Friday night. The first ten minutes saw the Tomahawks jump to a 2-0 lead, the first coming from Adam Ondris, followed by Charlie Zetterkvist. Ben Norris cut the lead in half to end the period 2-1 in the Tomahawks favor. Like the prior period, the Tomahawks struck first again in the second off a goal from Caden Olenczak. The Aviators followed with two goals a minute apart late, the first a standalone Luke Sakala goal, and Jack Kohlmann with the tying goal. The third period was a back-and-forth affair, and with overtime looming the Tomahawks scored the winning goal from Dylan Shane with less than two minutes in play.

Maine 3 @ New Jersey 0 - Winning the first game of the series, the Maine Nordiques shutout the New Jersey Titans. The first goal didn’t come for the Nordiques until 5:16 into the second period, off a one-timer from Kellen Murphy. The next two goals came against an empty net, from Luke Chappelle and Kellen Murphy. Despite a total of 76 shots behind both teams, only the first goal in the second came without an empty net or man advantage. Nordiques goaltender Matthew DellaRusso earned the shutout, stopping all 31 shots faced. Titans goaltender Austin McNicholas was also stout in the loss, stopping 42 of 43 shots faced.

North Iowa 5 @ Watertown 2 - Despite being outshot by the Watertown Shamrocks, the North Iowa Bulls took the first game of the series Friday evening. The only goal of the first period came 1:02 in, Jack Searverson credited. The Bulls followed with three goals in the first ten minutes of the second period. Eli Miller with a backhander to begin, Cole Wirun soon after, and Michael Malatino at the halfway point. Down four goals, the Shamrocks jumped on the board with two quick goals from Spencer Sasenbury and Cam Markham. With the Shamrocks fixing for a comeback, the Bulls locked down their defense, and even added a score with Malatino for his second of the night to stop any hope of a Shamrocks victory.

Chippewa 3 @ Wisconsin 9 - The Wisconsin Windigo scored nine goals on 25 shots in a statement victory over the Chippewa Steel. Dominating the first period, the Windigo took a 3-0 lead. The first goal came from Alexios Georgaklis, followed less than a minute after by Rio Treharne for his first of the season. Georgaklis added his second of the night at 11:23 to cap the scoring for the period. It took six minutes into the second period for the Windigo to add to their total: two more goals from Hunter Hayes and Theodore Richardson in less than a minute. Despite the Steel getting on the board at 7:38 into the period with a Jackson Leckas goal, the Windigo responded with three more goals before the period. Ronnie Hill, Hayes again, and John Halverson all notched goals. The Steel struck first in the third period thanks to Camden Davis, trailed by Hayes once again to secure his hat trick. Hunter Whisenand took the final goal of the game, but it was out of hand for the Steel at that point, unable to get past the Windigo’s defense.

El Paso 3 @ Oklahoma 2 (SO) - The El Paso Rhinos earned a hard fought victory in the shootout against the Oklahoma Warriors. The latter drew first blood in the first period, with Kyle Sorensen on the power play taking the only goal of the period. Sorensen would be looked to once again early in the second period, scoring his second of the day. By the end of the period the game would be tied, the Rhinos getting goals from Trent Anfinson and Kyle Arias. The game would be scoreless after this period, and after a scoreless overtime the game went to the shootout. The first goal scored in the shootout was the game winner, and Andrew DellaDonna won it for his team.

Minnesota W 4 @ Janesville 0 - The Minnesota Wilderness took care of business Friday against the Janesville Jets with a shutout victory. After taking a 1-0 lead after 20 with Brady Zugec scoring first, the Wilderness added two more in the second period. Jakeb Lynch and Lucas Jendek each putting their names on the score sheet in the period. With the win in sight, the cherry on top goal came from Zach Homer with just over two minutes left in regulation, capping off the victory. Wilderness goaltender Valdemar Anderson earned the shutout, stopping all 20 shots faced

St. Cloud 6 @ Aberdeen 1 - A five goal third period powered the St. Cloud Norsemen to a 6-1 victory over the Aberdeen Wings on Friday night. The lone goal of the first belonged to the Norsemen, coming off the stick of Niksa Juric, and the visitors jumped out to a one goal lead after 20 minutes. In the second, the lone goal of the period belonged to the Wings, coming off the stick of Jack McDonough, and the game skidded into the second intermission tied at a goal apiece. The third period would be all Norsemen, as goals from Alex Sandhu, Zak Wentworth, Mason LeBel, Tyler Wishart on the man advantage, and Sam Kartch would seal the deal. In net, Damian Slavik earned the win with 22 saves on the night, while Aberdeen goaltender Willum Braun stopped 25 in the loss.

Austin 1 @ Bismarck 4 - Four separate goal scorers would power the Bismarck Bobcats to a 4-1 victory over the Austin Bruins on Friday. In the first, Bismarck would break the ice on a Keanu Krenn goal, and that would be it after 20 minutes. In the second, Kyle Doll would double the Bobcats lead heading into the final frame. Louie Kamienski and Alexandr Kim would add goals for Bismarck. Jackson Rilei would get a late consolation goal for the Bruins.

Lone Star 4 @ Odessa 2 - A pair of goals from Kristo Pitkanen powered the Lone Star Brahmas to an all important 4-2 victory over the Odessa Jackalopes on Friday night. In the first, plenty of chances were had, but 14 saves from Nicolas Rempel for Lone Star and 13 from Odessa netminder William Karphed kept the game scoreless after 20 minutes. In the second, goals from Pitkanen and a power play tally from Leo Bergstrom staked the Brahmas to a three goal lead, but Nicholas Arrington would get one back to bring the lead to two heading into the final frame. In the third, Saxton Tess would score for Lone Star. Shea Barry would get one back, but it would be too little too late.

Amarillo 0 @ New Mexico 4 - A pair of goals from Andrew Earl would seal the win for the New Mexico Ice Wolves, defeating the Amarillo Wranglers by a final of 4-0. In the second, Sean Gibbons would open the scoring for the Ice Wolves. Heading into the final frame, Toivo Laaksonen, and Earl would seal the deal for the Ice Wolves.

Shreveport 3 Corpus Christi 2 (OT) - Angel Lovecchio would be the overtime hero for the Shreveport Mudbugs, defeating the Corpus Christi IceRays by a final of 3-2 on Friday night. In the first, goals from Will Reardon and Cooper Conway would stake the home IceRays to a 2 goal lead heading into the first intermission. In the second, Seth Murch would get one back for the Mudbugs, and cut the deficit in half heading into the final frame. Lucas Deeb would send the game to the extra session, and Lovecchio would bury the game winner in overtime on the man advantage.  

Minnesota M 1 @ Minot 7 - An Ian Spencer hat trick powered the Minot Minotauros to a 7-1 victory over the Minnesota Mallards on Friday night. In the first, a pair of Spencer goals and one from Braeden Jockims staked the home squad to an early lead. In the middle frame, Spencer would complete the hat trick, and Jack O’Hanisain would add another goal, while Jacob Faith got one back for the Mallards. In the final frame, Gavin Middendorf and Leo Cabulis would each add goals to complete the dominating win.

Anchorage 2 @ Fairbanks 3 - A late goal from Gage Leonard would give the Fairbanks Ice Dogs a 3-2 victory over a fellow Alaska rival in the Anchorage Wolverines. Teams would trade a pair of goals each in the opening 20 minutes, Jakub Galnor and Samuel Evert for Anchorage, and Adam Timm and Luc Plante for the Ice Dogs. That would stay the score until late in the third, when Leonard broke the ice to give the Ice Dogs the victory.

Springfield 7 @ Kenai River 5 - A pair of goals from Gaige Giblin delivered the Springfield Jr. Blues a victory over the Kenai River Brown Bears on Friday night. In the first, goals from Logan Sutton and Giblin gave the visitors a two goal lead, after John Ross cut the lead back. In the second, Conner Broadhead and Roy Chung would score for the Jr. Blues, while Thomas Gunderson, Carter McCormick, and Joel Hanson would all score for Kenai River to cut the Springfield lead to 1 heading into the final frame. Luke Sawicky and Tyler Smith would seal the deal for Springfield, while Riley Mullen would get one back for the Brown Bears. 

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