Wild Beat Wilderness In Game Two
April 5, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Cloquet, MN. - The Wenatchee Wild made the most of their opportunities Saturday night, skating past the Minnesota Wilderness 4-3 at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena, in game two of the best-of-five Midwest Division semifinals, taking a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The Wild capitalized on their second power play of the opening period, as Alex Rauter (Morristown, New Jersey) scored on a backhander straight out in front. The assists went to David Powlowski (Rochester, New York) and Jakob Ahlgren (Fergus Falls, Minnesota) at 7:37, putting Wenatchee on top, 1-0. The Wilderness would tie the game on a Darian Romanko goal, with assists going to Michael Covach and Jaycob McCombs at 15:34, knotting the game at 1-1. With the Wild's Omar Mullan (Dearborn, Michigan) in the penalty box on a major penalty, Jakob Romo fired home a power play goal, with helpers from Terry Leabo and Thomas Lindstrom at 18:41, putting Minnesota on top, 2-1. Just moments later however, Wenatchee would tie the game thanks to Rauter's wrister from outside the top of the right circle. Brendan Harris (Las Vegas, Nevada) assisted at 19:30, tying the game 2-2.
Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, California) fired home an unassisted goal at 4:27 of the second period, putting the Wild back on top at 3-2. Richard Buri would tie it up for the Wilderness, with assists going to Eric Brenk and Romo at 8:06, tying the game 3-3. Nicholas Rivera (Pacific Palisades, California) scored a sharp angle goal on a shot from the right of the goal, putting Wenatchee back in the lead. Mullan and Mike Coyne (Kenmore, New York) assisted at 14:21 and the Wild were back in front at 4-3.
The two teams battled hard throughout the third period, with Wenatchee hanging on to the one goal lead. Minnesota pulled the goaltender in the final minute, but the Wild kept the Wilderness at bay, holding on for the 4-3 win. "I thought both teams battled hard" said Wenatchee Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler. "Awful proud of our effort. We'll need our best effort tomorrow night. We'll get a team that's desperate, a team that's won a lot of hockey games; we'll need our best effort tomorrow to get `em."
Minnesota outshot Wenatchee 30-28. Chase Perry (Andover, Minnesota) made 25 saves for the Wild, while Kasimir Kaskisuo and Frank Oplinger combined to stop 24 shots for the Wilderness. Wenatchee was 1-for-2 on the power play and 1-of-2 with a shorthanded goal on the penalty kill.
Wenatchee leads the best-of-five series, 2-0.
Game Three is tomorrow (Sunday) night at 3:05pm PDT. If necessary, the series will shift to Wenatchee for games 4 and 5 on Friday and Saturday, April 11th and 12th. Individual and group game tickets for all home playoff games are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825).
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North American Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2014
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