Wild Beats Wilderness In Shootout
September 20, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Blaine, MN. - The Wenatchee Wild stayed perfect on the young season, going to a shootout to defeat the Minnesota Wilderness 2-1 Thursday night, in the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.
After a scoreless first period, it was the Wild who struck first, as Gadel Gumerov (Nizhnekamsk, Russia) fired a wrist shot from the right circle over the right shoulder of the goaltender. Parker Tuomie (Biemerhaven, Germany) assisted at 8:14, putting Wenatchee on top 1-0. Billy Exell would strike for the Wilderness at 14:31, assisted by Brett Heikkila and the teams would end the second period tied 1-1.
The third period was pretty tight, with precious few scoring opportunities either way. A late penalty gave Minnesota a chance, but the Wild were able to hold the Wilderness off the board, as the game moved into overtime.
Another Wenatchee penalty just past the midway point of the extra session gave Minnesota their second power play of the game, but the Wild killed off the disadvantage and the game would proceed to a deciding shootout.
In the shootout, the Wilderness would grab a 2-0 lead through two rounds, but with their backs pressed firmly against the wall, Wenatchee responded with goals by Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, California), Tuomie and Joseph Kaszupski (Henderson, Nevada) to win the shootout 3-2 and the game 2-1.
The Wild outshot Minnesota on the night, 28-27. Chase Perry (Andover, Minnesota) stood tall in goal for Wenatchee, stopping 26-of-27 shots faced. Frank Oplinger stopped 27 shots for the Wilderness. The Wild was 0-for-2 on the power play and a perfect 2-of-2 on the penalty kill.
"I think our kids are getting better," said Wenatchee Head Coach Bliss Littler. "We want to improve each period, we're making some plays and obviously we got very good goaltending out of Chase (Perry) tonight." Littler was pleased with the penalty kill too, saying "Obviously, the penalty kill was good. Your penalty kill starts with goaltending, so overall I was pretty happy."
The Wild improves to 2-0-0 with the win, Minnesota slips to 1-1-0.
The Wild's next game is Friday against the Minnesota Magicians. Faceoff will be at 6:15pm PDT. Wenatchee concludes play in the Showcase with a game Saturday against the Coulee Region Chill at 5:15pm PDT, and then plays two in Bismarck on September 27th and 28th. The home opening weekend at the Town Toyota Center against the Minot Minotauros is set for Friday and Saturday, October 4th and 5th, with faceoff at 7:05pm PDT both nights. Individual and group game tickets for all home games are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825).
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