Wild Concludes 8-Game Trip With Loss to New Mexico
Published on March 17, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The Wenatchee Wild concluded its 8-game road trip Wednesday with a 3-2 loss to the New Mexico Mustangs at the Santa Ana Star Center. The loss ended the Wild's 3-game winning streak and forced a split in its 2-game mid-week set against the Mustangs.
The Mustangs drew first blood 13:17 into the opening period on Christian Merritt's deflection. Christian Johnson and Michael Lafrenier assisted. The Wild evened the score one minute and 31 seconds later on Carl-Johan Sjogren's (Tumba, Sweden) wrist shot from the inside edge of the near faceoff circle. The Wild earned the goal thanks to a sound backcheck that caused a neutral-zone turnover and allowed for a quick transition into the offensive zone. Max McHugh (Edgewood, Wash.) and D.J. Vandercook (Farmington Hills, Mich.) earned the assists on Sjogren's 18th goal of the season.
Wenatchee took its first lead of the contest 63 seconds into the second frame on Jacob Barber's (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) wrister from just inside the near faceoff dot that beat Mustang netminder Lukas Hernandez high and stick side. Mario Puskarich (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) and Cody von Rueden (Northbrook, Ill.) recorded the assists on Barber's 33rd goal of the 2010-11 campaign.
Unfortunately for the Wild, the Mustangs controlled the remained of the second period to earn a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of play. Charles Baldwin tied up the contest, 2-2, at the 11:56 mark when he scored 5-hole on a breakaway. Adam Chapie put the Mustangs back on top, 3-2, at the 13:44 mark when he scored on a rebound right in front of the cage off of Rob Heath's slap shot from the near wing. Chapie's goal, which Patrick Anderson also assisted on, would go as the eventual game-winner after a scoreless third period.
Hernandez stopped 21-of-23 shots to earn the win. Wild goalie Greg Lewis (Pittsburgh, Pa.) made 21 saves on 24 shots. Both teams went 0-for-2 on man-advantage chances.
The Wild (32-21-3) will return to Wenatchee to finish its regular-season schedule with a 2-game series against the Fresno Monsters this Friday and Saturday. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.
wenatcheewild.com
North American Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2011
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- Tornado Weekly: Fan Appreciation Friday, Belfour stars in Pros vs. Prospects Sunday - Texas Tornado
- Bulls Comeback Stopped by Wildcats 5-4 - Amarillo Bulls
- Wild Concludes 8-Game Trip With Loss to New Mexico - Wenatchee Wild
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