Pilots Losing Streak Is Over
November 17, 2018 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
The losing streak is over for the Topeka Pilots.
Victims of a four-game losing skid, Topeka (11-8-2) withstood a late push from the Springfield Jr. Blues and earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory Friday night at the Nelson Center.
Goaltender Emil Gransoe was solid in net late in the contest, including a flurry in the final seconds that he helped keep out of the net, preserving the victory. Gransoe stopped 28 of 29 shots on the evening, improving to 8-4-1 on the season and lowering his goals against average to 2.53.
The game-winning goal came off the stick of forward Hugh Quinn at 14:58 of the second period, his fourth of the season. Quinn took a nice feed from forward Dallas Tulik on the play and snapped a wrist shot past goaltender Jack Williams. Defenseman Max Finner also picked up an assist on the play. Finner's helper was his 12th of the season, which leads the Pilots.
In the first period, Topeka struck first with forward Kyler Yeo tallying his third goal of the season at 11:51. Yeo, who played for Springfield last season, took a nice feed from forward Cole Thiessen and beat Williams from the slot for a 1-0 lead.
Before the first period ended, Springfield (8-9-3) knotted it up at 1-1, with forward Jonathan Panisa beating Gransoe for his third goal of the season.
Despite 16 second period shots for the Jr. Blues, Quinn's tally was the lone goal in the second.
With the victory, Topeka will now look to start a new winning streak. The Pilots and Jr. Blues battle again at 6:05 p.m. Saturday evening at the Nelson Center.
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