Eagles soar into North Finals with sweep of Port Huron
North Division Semi-Final: Game #3
Soo Eagles 4 @ Port Huron Fighting Falcons 1 (Soo wins series, 3-0)
Tyler Marble was his usual stonewall self as he made 33 saves to help the Soo Eagles to a Game 3 4-1 win over Port Huron, sending the Soo into the North Division Finals where they will meet the Jamestown Ironmen beginning next weekend. With Marble in goal, the Soo would pick apart the Fighting Falcons with a goal in each of the first two periods. NAHL scoring champion Jared Van Wormer got things started late in the 1st period with a goal and that was followed by a goal early in the 2nd period by Mike Sabatini. In the 3rd period, Port Huron showed signs of life as Payden Mielke answered for the Fighting Falcons to make it 2-1, but just over a minute later Eric Rivard answered back for the Soo to take the momentum away from the Fighting Falcons. Sabatini added a goal two minutes after Rivard’s for his second of the game and the final was set. Marble ended up with 33 saves and only allowed four goals in the series. Max Milosek had 26 saves in the loss. The Eagles open up the North Division Finals at home next weekend against the Jamestown Ironmen. Boxscore
West Division Semi-Final: Game #4
Wenatchee Wild 4 @ Fresno Monsters 2 (Best of 5 series tied, 2-2)
With their backs against the wall, the Wild responded with a big Game 4 win on the road in Fresno, sending the series to a 5th and deciding game back in Wenatchee on Sunday. Head coach Bliss Littler said in the media prior to Game 4 that Wenatchee’s best players had to respond in Game 4 in order to win and they did. Wenatchee started the scoring in the 1st period with a power play goal from Jacob Barber, who had been shutout of the scoreboard until Game 4. Fresno responded three minutes late with a power play goal of their own from Gordon Wells to tie the game at 1-1. Wenatchee took the lead for good in the 2nd period as another one of their top scorers, Chris Kerr, have them a 2-1 lead. The lead swelled to 3-1 early in the 3rd period as Barber scored his second goal of the game on the power play. Karl Andersen answered back for Fresno on the power play to make it 3-2, but veteran Wild goaltender Robert Nichols made the lead stand with 23 saves. Max McHugh added an empty-net goal to secure the 4-2 win. Wenatchee’s #2, #3 and #4 scorers all scored in the win. The 5th and deciding Game 5 will be played in Wenatchee on Sunday, April 21st at 5:05pm. Boxscore
