Friday Finals: Five Teams Punch Playoff Tickets

New Hampshire 1 @ Danbury 4 - Three goals in the second period by forwards Austin Michaud, Isaac Mitchell, and David Utkin helped elevate the Danbury Hat Tricks past the New Hampshire Mountain Kings in the team's 4-1 home win. The goal from Michaud was his first of the season — he's only played in three games. The fourth goal for Danbury was scored by forward Niko Tournas, his 35th of the year. Tournas leads the Hat Tricks in scoring, having scored 19 more goals than second place. The lone score from the Mountain Kings came from their leading goal scorer, forward Oli Genest, who's lit the lantern 38 times this season. The win goes to Danbury goalie Ryan Crowshaw, his fourth of the season, after saving 24 of 25 shots.

Elmira 0 @ Rochester 5 - Three goals in the second period by forwards Austin Michaud, Isaac Mitchell, and David Utkin helped elevate the Danbury Hat Tricks past the New Hampshire Mountain Kings in the team's 4-1 home win. The goal from Michaud was his first of the season — he's only played in three games. The fourth goal for Danbury was scored by forward Niko Tournas, his 35th of the year. Tournas leads the Hat Tricks in scoring, having scored 19 more goals than second place. The lone score from the Mountain Kings came from their leading goal scorer, forward Oli Genest, who's lit the lantern 38 times this season. The win goes to Danbury goalie Ryan Crowshaw, his fourth of the season, after saving 24 of 25 shots.

Northeast 4 @ Maine 6 - Two goals from forward Kellen Murphy and three scores in the third period contributed to the Maine Nordiques' 6-4 home win over the Northeast Generals. Before Murphy scored a pair in the second period, Maine forward Tomeka Haula got the Nordiques on the board in the first with his sixth goal of the season. Northeast led into the third period 4-3 thanks to scores from forwards William-Francisco Parent and Rich Rucireto and defensemen Cole Mckenna and Jack Montaldo, but the Generals' lead would slip away. Maine forwards Usko Laaksonen, Laurent Trepanier, and defenseman Luke Chappelle each lit the lantern to close things out for the Nordiques. It was Maine's second win in the team's last five games and the Generals' seventh-straight loss.

Johnstown 3 @ New Jersey 5 - In what could be a prelude to a playoff matchup, the New Jersey Titans defeated the Johnstown Tomahawks 5-3 for a home win. New Jersey forward Ryan Novo scored two goals in the victory, increasing his season total to 22. The other three goals for the Titans were knocked in by forwards Johnny McMahon, Owen Leahy, and Nikita Meshcheryakov. Johnstown forward Nick White knocked in a pair of goals for the Tomahawks, while the third goal was scored by forward Cullen Emery. The win was awarded to New Jersey goalie Austin McNicholas, his 20th of the season after saving 37 of 40 shots.

Maryland 3 @ Philadelphia 2 - After a scoreless first period, it would still take a little bit to find the game's first goal. In the final minutes of the second, Isac Nielsen would strike on the powerplay to light the lamp and give Maryland the important first goal of the game. In the third period, the teams would trade goals back in forth, with the Rebels' Ruslan Jamaldinov scoring a pair. Owen Drury and Luke Janus would respond to each goal as the Bears prevailed late in the period. Ryan Denes would do what he needed to do, making 25 saves on the night.

Springfield 3 @ Chippewa 2 - Despite Chippewa having 15 shots on Frank Murphy in the opening frame, this game was scoreless heading into the second. Early in the second, Chippewa would grab a pair of goals from Camden Davis and Matic Percic. The Jr. Blues would find a way to cut the lead in half, thanks to a goal from Cruz Martin minutes later. In the third period, Springfield would come out firing, with goals from Logan Ganz and Jack Klevby. Murphy would grab the win, making 27 saves the entire game.

Lone Star 3 @ Oklahoma 2 - A powerplay goal from Owen Kerr would get the Brahmas going early on Friday, with this being the only goal of the first. Quickly into the second, Charlie Ashton would find the equalizer in the first minute. It would take a little bit before the Brahmas' would find their lead again, with Kerr once again scoring to put Lone Star in front. Despite Trent Burlison scoring a goal in the final four minutes of the game, Saxon Tess would score the game-winning goal in the final minute. This would put the Brahmas' in front and they would escape with the victory.

Aberdeen 5 @ Minnesota M 2 - In the first, Briggs Orr would score the first goal of the game to put the Wings up early. It would take a little bit for the Mallards to get going, but they would find their stride in the second, with consecutive goals from Marek Thompson and Eli Bailey, helping them get their first lead of the game. Later on in the second, Aberdeen would do the same thing, with Charlie Burchfield and Jibber Kuhl scoring to regain their lead. This time, Aberdeen would hold their lead, with Kuhl scoring another powerplay goal to extend the lead. Gustas Zemaitis would score an empty net goal to put this one away and Willum Braun would pick up the win on Friday.

Minot 3 @ Austin 1 - 51 shots for the Austin Bruins compared to 29 for the Minot Minotauros Friday night wasn’t enough for a Bruins victory, falling to the Tauros. The first period was scoreless, despite each team registering over ten shots. The scoreless game was broken 4:19 into the second with Gavin Middendorf finding the back of the net. He would follow that in the later half of the period with another goal to give his team a 2-0 lead. The Bruins got on the board 6:09 into the third with a power play goal from Ashton Bynum, but in the final seconds of regulation Middendorf was called on once again, hitting the dagger and earning a hat trick. Tauros goaltender Lukas Swedin was stout in the win, stopping 50 of 51 shots faced.

Watertown 5 @ North Iowa 2 - The Watertown Shamrocks weren’t phased after finding themselves in a deficit early against the North Iowa Bulls, earning the comeback win. Jack Seaverson of the Bulls struck first early in the beginning minutes of regulation, followed by teammate Evan Johnson to give the Bulls a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. The Shamrocks would tie the game in the second with back-to-back power play goals, scored by Cam Markham and Travis Lefere. Spencer Sasenbury with the last goal of the second gave the Shamrocks the lead. Entering a close third period, the Shamrocks ran away with the lead, scoring first from Zach Boren, and then in the final seconds of regulation Owen Chartier capped off the win.

St. Cloud 4 @ Bismarck 5 (SO) - The Bismarck Bobcats won a heart-pounding shootout victory Friday evening over the St. Cloud Norsemen. Jakub Kopecky of the Bobcats took the first lead for his team, but Mason LeBel made sure in the final minute of the period with his goal that both teams were 1-1 heading into the second period. At 1:40 into the second, Keanu Krenn gave the Bobcats the lead once more, but the Norsemen with two goals in 18 seconds late in the period from Hudson Blue and LeBel again gave the Norsmen their first lead. Despite the Norsemen’s best efforts to carry the momentum into the third, Wyatt Sypniewski tied the game late with his first goal. Bronson Hunt gave the Norsemen the lead for the second time to open the third, but for the second time again the Bobcats tied it, this time thanks to Tommy Cronin. A scoreless overtime went to the shootout, and the Bobcats won in front of the home crowd with Evan Hunter credited with the game winner.

Janesville 5 @ Minnesota W 3 - It was a close game till the final minutes of regulation, ending in the Janesville Jets finding themselves on top. The Jets drew first blood, taking a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes thanks to Nick Messina and Phillippe Lalonde. The Minnesota Wilderness got on the board 6:47 into the second period, with team-leading scorer Frantisek Netusil notching a goal. Messina gave the Jets their two goal lead back with his second of the evening, but Nate Murray and River Freeman of the Wilderness tied the game going into the third. Both teams tightened up defensively in the final period, each only registering seven shots. Despite this, the Jets got two more goals late to win a hard fought victory. Luke Brierley credited with the power play goal, and Rylan Brady unassisted in the final seconds.

Corpus Christi 4 @ Odessa 7 - A Jack L’Esperance hat trick powered the Odessa Jackalopes to a 7-4 win over the Corpus Christi IceRays on Friday night. In the first, L’Esperance would open the scoring on the man advantage, but with just under two minutes to go, Stepan Kuznetsov would temporarily equalize on the power play, before L’Esperance would bury his second of the period to give the Jackalopes the lead after 20 minutes. In the second, Caden Ghiossi would give Odessa a two goal lead, before Pierson Sobush cut the lead back to one. That wouldn’t last long, as 47 seconds later, Kowin Belsterling would score to give Odessa the two goal lead back. With just under four minutes to go in the second, L’Esperance would complete the hat trick with his second man advantage tally of the night, but Grayson Gerhard would get one back in the final minute on the man advantage to keep the Odessa lead at two heading into the final frame. In the third, Christian Tavare would regain the three-goal Odessa lead, but Kuznetsov would get the IceRays back within a pair with his second powerplay goal of the night. A late shorthanded, empty net goal from Ghiossi would seal the deal for Odessa.

New Mexico 4 @ El Paso 2 - Four separate goal scorers powered the New Mexico Ice Wolves to a 4-2 win over the El Paso Rhinos on Friday. In the second, Jacob Solano opened the scoring for the Rhinos, but two goals in the final 30 seconds from Johnny Johannson and Ethan Hull gave the visitors the lead after two periods. Early in the third, a pair of goals from Nayan Pai and Stanley Hubbard grew the Ice Wolves lead to three. Roope Tuomioksa would get one back for El Paso, but it would be too little too late.

Amarillo 4 @ Colorado 3 (OT) - Alexander Aleslov would be the overtime hero for the Amarillo Wranglers, defeating the Colorado Grit by a final of 4-3 on Friday. In the second, Marc LaFrance and Trevor O’Donohue would tally goals for the Wranglers, while Luke Helgeson would get one for the Grit. In the third, Jake Boulanger would get one for the Wranglers, but goals from Landon West and Sheldon Rioux sent the game to the extra session, where Aleslov would be the overtime hero for the visitors.

Wisconsin 4 @ Anchorage 5 (SO) - Andrew Karkoc’s goal in the 11th round of the shootout capped off a wild night at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage as the Wolverines clinched a playoff spot in the Robertson Cup playoffs. The Wolverines were in cruise control as they built a 4-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes. Jason Bourdukofsky, Ashton Breyer, Drew Nelson and Toby Carlson all scored in the first period for Anchorage. Things were going smooth in the second until Braydon Beahm, Alexios Georgaklis and Jackson Ernst scored three goals in a span of 3:13 to bring Wisconsin within one heading into the break. Ernst scored his second of the night just 19 seconds into the third to even the game at four. After the rest of the 3rd period and overtime were scoreless, the teams traded chances in the skills competition, each with multiple chances to win. Karkoc finally ended the madness in the 11th round, sending the faithful home happy. Michael Manzi earned the win, making 26 saves plus 9 more stops in the shootout. Lucas Szyszka was dealt the loss as he ended the night with 30 stops. 

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