WHL Wenatchee Wild

Bukarts Pots Two in Third Period, Wild Come from Behind for 3-2 Win Friday

November 4, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


Wenatchee Wild celebrate win
Wenatchee Wild celebrate win
(Wenatchee Wild, Credit: Russ Alman/Wenatchee Wild)

WENATCHEE, Wash. - From the start of Friday's Western Hockey League game at Town Toyota Center, the Wenatchee Wild had a firm grip on the pace of their game against the Vancouver Giants. Down 1-0 going to the third period but with a 30-15 shots-on-goal advantage, it seemed to be only a matter of time before they broke through to nab their first goal.

They finally did succeed in getting that first goal...and a second...and a third. In less than a five-minute span, the Wild had grabbed full control of the game on the way to a 3-2 win, their sixth straight victory. Wenatchee ran its record to 9-6-1-0 on the season, including a 6-1 mark at home, while the Giants slipped to 5-8-1-0 in taking the loss.

The Wild controlled the tempo from the start, throwing the first shot on the Giants' net just five seconds off the opening draw and posting 10 of the game's first 13 shots. The first period margin was 18-6 in Wenatchee's favor, but neither team reached the back of the net until Ty Halaburda stuffed in a goal at 11:35 of the second period, with just 10 seconds remaining on a Wild penalty.

The game shifted in the third, starting at the 3:19 mark with a weak-side rebound goal from Rodzers Bukarts, following Dawson Seitz's initial chance on the right wing. The Wild took the lead for good at 7:41 of the period, after Kenta Isogai put on the moves to draw defenders on the left wing, and found Conor Geekie in front for his seventh goal of the season.

Wenatchee stretched its lead to two goals just 35 seconds later, when Bukarts tossed in a second goal from an Ashton Brown faceoff in the Giants' end. Vancouver would stay in the game in the final minutes, though, adding an Aaron Obobaifo goal on a power play one-timer from Kyren Gronick with 3:39 left. The visitors got a handful of looks at the Wild net in the final moments, but never were able to even up the contest.

"We ran into a hot goalie there for about 40 minutes," said Wild assistant coach Andrew Sarauer. "The guys were kind of snake-bit - we were getting our chances, and I liked the way we played the whole time. Sometimes you've just got to keep working, and tell the guys to keep going. Our guys found a way - we got two big goals from Rodzers there, and got the energy going and got the crowd into it. The guys brought the energy tonight, and it was good to get the two points again."

Bukarts closed the night with a pair of goals, while Graham Sward posted two assists to extend his point streak to 14 games to open the season, the longest active streak in Canadian Hockey League play. The final shots-on-goal margin reached 42-20 in favor of the Wild, though the Giants controlled the special teams with a 3-for-3 penalty kill and a 2-for-3 night on the power play.

Daniel Hauser also made team history, tying Nathan Lieuwen's Wild and ICE franchise record with his 85th career victory behind an 18-save performance. Matthew Hutchison took the loss for Vancouver with 39 saves.

The Wild close out a stretch of six games out of seven on home ice Saturday when the Victoria Royals make their first-ever visit to Town Toyota Center for Wenatchee's annual Military Appreciation Night promotion, presented by CMI Orchards. The opening puck drop is slated for 6 p.m.

Tickets for that game and all home regular-season contests are on sale now at 509-888-7825, or by visiting the team office at Town Toyota Center. Updated news and information on Wild hockey are always available through the team's website and on the team's social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Images from this story

Wenatchee Wild celebrate win
Wenatchee Wild celebrate win
(Russ Alman/Wenatchee Wild)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2023


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