Game 5 Is Necessary
Published on April 14, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
PALMER, Alaska - Playing in a hostile environment with no margin for error, the Wenatchee Wild responded with one of their finest performances of the season Friday. The result was a 7-1 victory over the Alaska Avalanche in Game 4 of their West Division semifinal series at the MTA Events Center in Palmer, Alaska.
With the win the Wild earned the right to play one more day in a winner-take-all Game 5. The game is Saturday night at 8:30 (PST) at the MTA Events Center in Palmer, Alaska. For a small fee, the game can be viewed live online at www.FASTHockey.com.
After a scoreless first period Friday, the Avs lit the first lamp when Wehebe Darge one-timed in a pass from Codey Hansen with nine minutes remaining before the second intermission. It was the only goal Alaska would muster.
The Wild came back to take the lead 2-1 heading into the third period on goals from Blake Roubos (Niagara Falls, Ontario) and Max McHugh (Edgewood, Wash.). Roubos knotted the score, 1-1, with 6:05 left in the second period on a wrist shot from the high slot. Matt Cope (Lakewood, Colo.) and Ben Carey (Centennial, Colo.) assisted.
McHugh scored the go-ahead marker on a 3-on-2 rush into the zone with 65 seconds remaining in the second stanza on a wicked wrist shot from inside the left faceoff circle. Shawn Pauly (Bellingham, Wash.) and Dylan Abood (Centennial, Colo.) picked up the assists.
The Wild scored five power-play goals to dominate the third period. Roubos gave the Wild a coveted 2-goal lead 8:39 into the final frame on assists from Cope and Chris Knudson (North Barrington, Ill.). Carey made it 4-1 moments later when he lit the lamp on a shot from the slot. Roubos and Cope assisted.
Kyle Huson (Parker, Colo.) put the Wild up 5-1 near the midpoint of the third stanza. Jacob Barber (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) and Knudson assisted. Roubos scored his hat trick goal with less than six minutes left in the game when he cleaned up a slap shot by Knudson. Abood also assisted.
Cope closed out scoring with 12 seconds left in the game on a wrister from the slot. Blake Saylor (Centennial, Colo.) picked up the lone assist. In all, the Wild scored six power-play goals while Alaska went 0-for-4 on its man-advantages.
Greg Lewis (Mars, Pa.) was brilliant in the win. He made 22 saves on 23 shots for his first win in the 2012 playoffs. Bodhi Engum took the loss for the Avs. Nick Kulmanovsky also saw playing time in the third period in relief of Engum. The pair combined for 25 saves on 32 shots.
Roubos led the Wild with a hat trick and an assist for a 4-point game. Cope also recorded a 4-pointer with a goal and three assists. Knudson tallied three assists while Carey (1G, 1A) and Abood (2A) notched two points apiece.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2012
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- Bruins stop Blizzard - Austin Bruins
- Kalamazoo Advances With OT Win - Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
- Bulls Goaltender Mike Taffe Commits to Manhattanville College - Amarillo Bulls
- Two Bulls Tenders Named to NAPHL All-Academic Team - Amarillo Bulls
- Game 5 Is Necessary - Wenatchee Wild
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