Wild Earn Second Straight Win over Ice Dogs
February 2, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - Four different Wenatchee Wild playersscored a goal Friday in a 4-1 victory over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs before morethan 2,700 fans at the Town Toyota Center. The win was the Wild's secondstraight over the Ice Dogs after a 2-1 series-opening victory Thursday night.
Josh Hartley (Coquitlam,British Columbia) broke a scoreless tie 38 seconds into the second period Fridaywhen he picked the far top corner of the net on a shot from the near point thattraveled through traffic. Trace Redmond(McKinney, Texas) and Nathan Flynn (Hastings,Minn.) picked up the assists on Hartley's eighth goal of the season.
The Ice Dogs tied up the contest, 1-1, near the midpoint ofthe second period when Colton Wolter set up Jacob Hetz on a cross-ice pass.
The Wild reclaimed the lead six minutes later when Joe Sullivan (Las Vegas, Nev.) knockedin his 12th goal of the season. After receiving a pass from Hartley,Sullivan skated around a Fairbanks defender, drew goalie Kevin Aldridge out ofposition and used his backhand for a tap in. Chris Kerr (Penticton, British Columbia) also assisted on thesequence.
The Wild upped their lead to 3-1 less than four minutes intothe third period when Jacob Barber (DardennePrairie, Mo.) banged in a short-handed goal during an odd-man rush into theoffensive zone. Max McHugh(Edgewood, Wash.) and Derick Kuchera(Eagan, Minn.) assisted.
"I think that took a lot of wind out of their sails," Wildassociate head coach Tom Rudrud saidof Barber's short-handed marker.
The Wild entered Friday's game with the No. 2 penalty-killin the NAHL, boasting a success rate of 88.8 percent. Wenatchee also enteredFriday's game with eight short-handed goals on the season, which tied the teamfor the second most in the league.
"I just think we have some guys that are fairly quick, andthey anticipate and jump at opportune times," Rudrud said, explaining histeam's short-handed goal-scoring ability, "and when that turnover comes, [theopposing team] is really at a disadvantage."
Jono Davis (LaVerne, Calif.) closed out scoring with 18 seconds remaining in regulation whenhe knocked in an empty-netter.
Robert Nichols(Dallas, Texas) was strong for the second night in a row, making 31 saves on 32shots. The win was Nichols' 25th of the season, which is one morewin than he had all of last season in his record-breaking rookie season withthe Wild. Aldridge made 29 saves on 32 shots for the Ice Dogs.
Both teams went 0-for-4 on the power play. Hartley led theWild with a goal and an assist.
The Wild (30-7-4) will try to earn a 3-game sweep over theIce Dogs Saturday. Faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. Fans can order tickets for thegame by calling 509.888.PUCK (7825).
With their back-to-back wins Friday and Saturday, the Wild extendedtheir lead over the Ice Dogs in the West Division to five points.
"A win [Saturday] night would put a pretty good distancebetween us and them," Rudrud said, "And we'd be feeling pretty good about that."
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