Wild Send Series Back to Wenatchee for Game 5
April 19, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
FRESNO, Calif. - Get ready, Wenatchee. The Wild are cominghome for Game 5 after defeating the Fresno Monsters 4-2 Thursday in Game 4 ofthe NAHL West Division semifinal playoff series at the Gateway Ice Center inFresno, Calif.
Winger Jacob Barber(Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) played a major role in the Wild's win Thursday. Hescored a pair of goals, both on the power play, including the game-winner, tohelp his team force Game 5.
"Barber has been sick the whole trip," said Wenatchee Wildhead coach Bliss Littler. "That wasa gutsy, gutsy effort on his part."
It was Barber who staked the Wild to a 1-0 lead 5:10 intoregulation when he scored from the back door thanks to sharp puck movement fromNoah Nelson (Oconomowoc, Wis.) and Chris Kerr (Penticton, BritishColumbia) during the first power play of the night.
"[Fresno goalie Tomas Sholl] is so aggressive and comes outof the net to cut down angles," Littler said of the back door play. "It hasbeen something we have been working on, and we just kept talking about gettingto the net. He stops the first shot, and you have to get to the net."
Fresno came right back, knotting the score 1-1 less thanthree minutes after Barber gave the Wild the early lead when Gordon Wellsknocked in a rebound. Kyle Sucher and Dan Sherer picked up the assists.
Kerr put the Wild back on top 4:10 into the second period onan even-strength marker after he received a pass from the far boards in openspace in the slot. Kerr used a forehand-to-backhand deke to light the go-aheadgoal. Dylan Abood (Centennial, Col.)and Jono Davis (La Verne, Calif.)assisted.
Barber notched his second power-play goal of the contest, theeventual game-winner, 5:11 into the third period on helpers from Davis andNelson. But the Monsters didn't go down easily, cutting Wenatchee's lead downto one goal with more than 12 minutes remaining in the third period on apower-play goal by Karl Andersen that was assisted by Sherer and Wells.
Wenatchee buckled down the rest of the game defensively and,led by goalie Robert Nichols(Dallas, Texas), refused to give up the game-tying goal.
"We got in front of the net," Littler said, summarizing histeam's Game 4 win, "we got some second chances and we got really good goaltendingout of Robbie."
Max McHugh(Edgewood, Wash.) added an unassisted empty-netter with three seconds left inregulation for the 4-2 final.
Barber led the Wild with two goals while Kerr scored a goaland added an assist. Davis and Nelson each recorded two assists. For Fresno,Wells scored a goal and added an assist while Sherer tallied two assists.
In all, Nichols made 23 saves on 25 shots. Sholl denied 31of the Wild's 34 shots. Wenatchee scored two power-play goals on three trieswhile Fresno also scored two power-play goals on four attempts.
Game 5 is Sunday at the Town Toyota Center. Faceoff is setfor 5:05 p.m. The winner will advance to the NAHL West Division finals.
"We've played 60 games to have that game there," Littlersaid, "so no excuses."
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