Blizzard Split with Magicians at Home
December 30, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Brookings Blizzard News Release
Friday, December 27
Behind a strong performance by Conor Andrle and the Brookings powerplay, the Blizzard down the Minnesota Magicians 5-3 on Friday night at the Larson Ice Center.ÃâàGoaltender Connor Girard also had an impressive showing stopping 27 of 30 Magician shots on goal.
The first period started out slow until Evan Hesse lit the lamp on assits from Conor Andrle and Victor Munter.ÃâàMinnesota was quick to answer on a Colin Hernon goal just over one minute later.ÃâàAssisted by Hesse and Brandon Parker, Andrle picked up the final goal of the period to put Brookings ahead by a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.
The middle frame saw goals by Jack Stang (assists credited to Elliot Tisdale and Brandon Parker) as well as Conor Andrle's second goal of the night.ÃâàThe second period also included two successful Brookings penalty kills as well as four Magician penalties totaling 16 minutes.
Andrle once again found the net on assists from Hesse and Nick DeCenzo, making that three goals on the night for the Blizzard forward.ÃâàPaul OConnor of the Magicians tallied the final goal of the game for either team.
The Blizzard put forth 39 shots on goal as well as scored on 3 of their 7 powerplay chances in the contest.ÃâàThe Blizzard also racked up 14 penalty minutes on 7 infractions in comparison to the Magicians' 34 minutes on 9 infractions.ÃâÃÂ
Receiving awards on the night were Conor Andrle (STAR 1), Evan Hesse (STAR 2), and Nick DeCenzo (STAR 3).
Saturday, December 28
In the second game of the weekend series, Brookings could not capitalize on any of 4 powerplays and dropped the contest against the Magicians 2-3 on Saturday night.
The first twenty minutes saw 4 penalty minutes and a huge period for Brookings in terms of shots on goal, but neither team could find the net, leaving the contest scoreless going into the first intermission.
Period two saw less scoring chances for Brookings and two powerplay goals by the Magicians.ÃâàMatt Colford and Eetu Karvinen both snuck shots by Brookings leaving the Blizzard behind by 2 goals after the second frame.ÃâÃÂ
Evan Hesse got the Blizzard going in the third period scoring off assists from Conor Andrle and Nick Nitta.ÃâàWith the final minutes were winding down, the Blizzard pulled goaltender Connor Girard for an extra attacker as Evan Hesse found the net again to tie up the contest.ÃâÃÂ
A sudden death overtime found the Magicians scoring first just under 3 minutes in.ÃâàThe overtime goal was scored by Eetu Karvinen.ÃâÃÂ
Saturday's contest held 10 penalty minutes by Brookings on 5 infractions as well as 12 Magician penalty minutes on 6 infractions.ÃâàThe Blizzard also put up 37 shots on goal in the contest.ÃâàGirard stopped 32 of 35 Minnesota shots.
The Blizzard resume play on Tuesday for a New Year's Eve matchup with the Minnesota Wilderness.ÃâàThe contest will begin at 7:15.
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North American Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2013
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