Winning Streak Ends at Five Games
December 28, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - An opportunistic Kenai River Brown Bearsteam took advantage of a few key first-period mistakes Friday en route to a 5-3victory over the Wenatchee Wild at the Town Toyota Center.
The two West Division foes lit up the scoreboard like aChristmas tree in the first period with the Brown Bears holding a 4-2 leadafter 20 minutes of play.
Brown Bear Alex Jackstadt scored the first goal of the game88 seconds into the first period on a shot from the slot off of a latedeveloping 2-on-1. Judd Loewenstein and Vincent Stefan assisted. Wenatchee tiedup the game a little over three minutes later during a power play when Blake Roubos (Niagara Falls, Ontario)redirected David Powlowski's (Rochester,N.Y.) wrister from the near point into the twine. Dillon Eichstadt (Bemidji, Minn.) also assisted.
Kenai River scored the next two goals, both of which wereproduced thanks to steals, to take a 3-1 lead with 12:26 remaining in the firststanza. Matt Seidel put the Brown Bears up 2-1 after he stole a pass near hisblue line and scored on a breakaway with 13:57 left before the firstintermission. Alec Butcher scored 91 seconds later after another steal when hetook a pass from Brad Duwe and scored on a 5-hole shot.
Wenatchee cut Kenai River's lead down to 3-2 with 12:06remaining in the first period when TraceRedmond (McKinney, Texas) scored on a rebound from the far side of thecage. Tyler Bruneteau (Omaha, Neb.)and David Mead (Conklin, N.Y.)picked up the assists.
The Brown Bears went on to reclaim their 2-goal lead, 4-2,with 2:01 remaining in the first frame when Duwe scored from the inside edge ofthe near circle during a 2-man power play. Jacob Davidson and Jake Busheyassisted.
"The first period we made four or five mistakes, and everytime we did [the puck] ended up in our net," said Wenatchee Wild head coach Bliss Littler. "Every time they had achance, they scored. We need to have a better effort ... we will be better[Saturday]."
In the second period, Wenatchee goalie Robert Nichols (Dallas, Texas) stopped two breakaways - one onButcher and one on Zac Lazzaro - and JacobBarber (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) scored a power-play goal from the slot duringa 5-minute major to cut Kenai River's lead to 4-3 with 4:42 left on the clockbefore the second intermission. JoshHartley (Coquitlam, British Columbia) and Dylan Abood (Centennial, Colo.) assisted.
Unfortunately the Wild were unable to score the game-tyinggoal in the third period and the Brown Bears tacked on an empty-netter for a5-3 victory. The loss halted Wenatchee's 5-game winning streak, which beganwith a 1-0 win over Johnstown on Dec. 1.
Wenatchee scored two power-play goals on five chances whileKenai River scored one power-play goal on seven opportunities. Gustaf Johanssonmade 30 saves on 33 shots for the Brown Bears while Nichols stopped 19-of-23shots.
The West Division-leading Wild (21-4-2) will square offagainst the Brown Bears again Saturday. Faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. The twoteams will conclude their 3-game series on New Year's Eve Monday. Faceoff forthe third game of the series on Monday is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Fans canpurchase tickets by calling 509.888.PUCK (7825).
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