Monsters Eke out Overtime Win: Nichols Spectacular in Third Period
November 26, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
FRESNO, Calif. - The Wenatchee Wild secured one standing point Friday at the Selland Arena in Fresno, Calif.,but suffered a 2-1 overtime loss to the Fresno Monsters.
The Monsters took a 1-0 lead 5:20into the contest on defenseman Jesse Durfee's slap shot from the near point.Brendan Bradley earned the primary assist, setting up Durfee from the nearcorner. Jeffrey McMinimy also assisted.
Wenatchee killed off a pair ofpenalties against a dangerous Fresno power play unit over the remainder of thefirst period. The Wild generated a 2-on-1 scoring chance at the end of thesecond penalty-kill situation, but could not capitalize on the opportunity.
The Wild's power-play chances camein the second period. Shawn Pauly(Bellingham, Wash.) forced a 1-1 tie when he banged in a rebound from the nearpost off of Ben Carey's (Centennial,Colo.) shot from the far side of the ice during a 2-man advantage near themidpoint of the frame. Chris Kerr (Penticton,British Columbia) picked up the second assist.
Wild netminder Robert Nichols (Dallas, Texas) wasspectacular in the third period. He stopped McMinimy, the Monsters' leadingscorer on a breakaway early in the frame. A penalty shot was called on the play,and Nichols also stopped that attempt.
Nichols, who made 25 saves on 27total shots, faced a 2-on-1 later in the third stanza. He stopped McMinimy'sshot from the left wing then denied a rebound goal to Mikhail Bushinski withthe lightning-fast snap of his left paw.
The Monsters went on to win 3:19into the overtime session when Chris Blessing scored from the slot on a feedfrom Bradley. Brett Blomgren also assisted.
For Fresno, Bradley led his teamwith a goal and an assist while goaltender Tomas Sholl made 24 saves on 25shots. Pauly's power-play marker was the only special teams goal of the game.Wenatchee went 1-for-3 on its power plays while Fresno went 0-for-3.
The Wild (9-7-3) and Monsters(9-7-6) will conclude their 2-game weekend series Saturday. Faceoff is set for7:35 p.m.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2011
- Tornado ride three-goal frame to victory - Odessa Jackalopes
- Bulls Beat Topeka 4-2 - Amarillo Bulls
- Bruins outshot by Blizzard - Austin Bruins
- IceRays Shut Out 2-0 by New Mexico - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Tornado shut down Jackalopes for 3-0 win - Texas Tornado
- Kalamazoo Drops First of Back-to-Back Against Port Huron - Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
- Monsters Eke out Overtime Win: Nichols Spectacular in Third Period - Wenatchee Wild
- Amarillo Bulls Score Four in Third to Beat Topeka 6-2 - Amarillo Bulls
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