Thursday Thrillers: Bismarck Secures Home Victory Against In-State Rival

Photo Credit: Hope Magelky

Northeast 4 @ Johnstown 3 (SO) - The Northeast Generals completed a resilient 4-3 win over the Johnstown Tomahawks in the shootout on New Year's Eve. Before dropping the ball, the Generals dropped an upset on the road against the Tomahawks thanks to some clutch play from their goaltending and their shootout scorers. To start the scoring, the Tomahawks put on an impressive forecheck that led to Jack Genovese giving his team a 1-0 lead. Minutes later, William Stewart placed a shot perfectly on the rush to give the Tomahawks a two-goal lead. With 3:33 remaining in the first frame, Vinny Ipri gave the Generals some life by contributing an unassisted tally of his own. The second period was all Generals, with Logan Poulin getting the first tally on the power play. Just two and a half minutes later, Finn Connor gave the Generals the lead yet again on the power play, and, all of a sudden, the game was in the hands of the Northeast Generals heading into the third frame. This 3-2 lead stuck for the first 13 minutes of the third period, but Nick Metelkin was the clutch goal scorer for Johnstown, which allowed this game to extend past regulation. The overtime period came and went without a goal scorer, and a shootout was necessary to decide the contest. Poulin put on a shifty move and buried the biscuit to start the shootout and put pressure on the Tomahawks. Will Mizenko made a dazzling glove save on Metelkin, and Kody Moyer came down and scored to give the Generals a 2-0 lead in the shootout. With an opportunity to extend the game, Charlie Zetterkvist attempted a shot at the five hole, but Mizenko wasn’t having it. With that save, the Generals left victorious and spoiled the Tomahawks' New Year's Eve homestand. Who will be the hero? – That’s the question everyone is thinking once the third period comes to a close and the score is tied up. In this case, Will Mizenko was simply unbreakable when it mattered most. For this reason, on top of some clutch goal scoring from Poulin and Moyer, the Generals were able to grab the win.

Minnesota M 0 @ Austin 9 - The New Year’s party started early in Austin on Wednesday night, as the Austin Bruins celebrated with a 9-0 pounding of the Minnesota Mallards. Siamion Marshchanok and Gavin Hruza led the way for the Bruins on New Year’s Eve. Marshchanok notched two goals and one assist, while Hruza netted a hat trick and one assist. With his three-point effort, Marshchanok now sits second in the NAHL in points with 53 – just four points back of Maryland forward Harrison Smith’s 57 points. The Bruins have now won five-straight contests and maintain control of first place in the Central Division – four points ahead of second-place Bismarck. Minnesota continues to fall in the Central Division standings, sitting in last place – seven points back of seventh-place St. Cloud. Austin got the scoring started early as two quick goals by Siamion Marshchanok (18th and 19th) – one via the power play – gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead just over five minutes in. Nolan Davis (second) added one more tally two minutes before the first intermission buzzer to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. The Austin offense exploded in the second period. Zander Lipsett (ninth), Hruza – who scored all three of his goals in the second period alone (14th, 15th and 16th) – and EJ Paddington (17th) all scored in the middle frame for the Bruins to open up an 8-0 lead after two periods. Austin added one more goal off the stick of Hudson Routh (first) just under four minutes into the final period to extend the Bruins’ massive lead to the eventual 9-0 final. Bruins goaltender Jack Solomon recorded 23 saves in the shutout win, including nine saves in the third period. 

Minot 3 @ Bismarck 6 - There was an in-state battle brewing between the Minot Minotauros and Bismarck Bobcats on New Year’s Eve. The matchup kicked off with the Bobcats lighting the lamp first in the opening frame. Bismarck’s Ben Rakowski found the back of the net at the 13:57 minute mark. A little over a minute later, the Tauros would even the scoreboard thanks to a tally by Dane Ramirez. However, the Bobcats would take the lead in the final five minutes of the period. First, Charlie Kresl scores at the 4:28 minute mark, followed by Frantisek Broz tallying a goal two minutes later. The second period spotlighting Minot brought the score within one when Arseni Vorobyov found twine a little over three minutes into the frame. However, Bismarck’s alternate captain, Noah Ziskie, would double the Bobcats' lead with a power-play goal midway through the period. As the contest moved into the final period, Bismarck would extend their lead in the final minutes of regulation. Szilveszter Lippai would score his fourth goal of the season for the Bobcats. Minot’s Lucca Ori would attempt to tighten up the contest with a tally at the 3:23 minute mark in the third period; however, the Bobcats would double their lead when Camden Alemond would score with two minutes to spare in the final period. Bismarck would skate away with a New Year’s Eve victory.