Wild Defeat Ice Dogs, 2-1: Redmond Scores Game-Winner
February 1, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - The Wenatchee Wild entered the first game of a 3-game series Thursday at the Town Toyota Center with a 1-point lead over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in the West Division standings. Make it a 3-point lead after the Wild defeated the Ice Dogs Thursday, 2-1.
Jacob Barber (Dardenne Prairie, Mo.) broke a scoreless tie with 3:47 remaining in the second period when he scored on a wrist shot from the slot that beat Fairbanks netminder Steve Perry 5-hole. Max McHugh (Edgewood, Wash.) set up Barber in the slot after he dug the puck off of the far wall. Jono Davis (La Verne, Calif.) also assisted on Barber's 13th goal of the season.
Trace Redmond (McKinney, Texas) doubled Wenatchee's lead less than a minute after his team killed off a penalty 2:18 into the third period when his sneaky backhander from the left wing found its way into the net during a 3-on-2 situation. Blake Butzow (Plymouth, Mich.) picked up the lone assist on Redmond's sixth goal of the season.
Redmond has scored two goals and is plus-2 in his last two games since returning to the lineup.
"I think [Trace] came back energized and playing with a lot of enthusiasm," said Wild associate head coach Tom Rudrud, while also complimenting Evan Schmidbauer (Surrey, British Columbia) and Tyler Bruneteau (Omaha, Neb.), Redmond's linemates.
Fairbanks cut Wenatchee's lead in half, 2-1, with a little over 12 minutes remaining in the third period when Mike Parnell knocked in a loose puck from the slot. Logan Wendling and Lonnie Clary assisted.
Wenatchee continued to generate offensive pressure over the remainder of the third period, but Perry was able to keep the Wild from scoring a third goal by denying a pair of breakaways and at least two other high quality scoring chances.
Thursday's win was the Wild's 29th of the season and their sixth in 2013.
"I think it was a great team win," Rudrud said. "I thought our guys battled very hard and battled together, and that typically ends in good results."
Robert Nichols (Dallas, Texas) made 21 saves on 22 shots to earn his third straight win. The win was Nichols' 24th of the season, matching his win total from last season.
"I think anytime a goalie gives up just one goal in a game, he's doing something right," said Rudrud. "We've come to expect [Robbie] to be a top-notch goalie, and he has routinely come through."
Perry made 42 saves on 44 shots for the Ice Dogs.
Neither team was able to score a power-play goal. Fairbanks went 0-for-3 on its man-advantage opportunities while Wenatchee went 0-for-2.
Game 2 between the Wild (29-7-4) and Ice Dogs is Friday at 7:05 p.m. Game 3 is Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Fans can order tickets for both games by calling 509.888.PUCK (7825).
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North American Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2013
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- Ironmen Suffer Disappointing Loss - Jamestown Ironmen
- Wild Defeat Ice Dogs, 2-1: Redmond Scores Game-Winner - Wenatchee Wild
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