Wild Edged By Magicians At Showcase
September 20, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Blaine, MN. - Two third period goals were the difference for the Minnesota Magicians, as they won a tightly contested 2-1 game from the Wenatchee Wild Friday night, in the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.
After a scoreless first period, it was the Wild who got on the board first via the power play just past the midway point of the second period. David Powlowski (Rochester, New York) got credit for the goal, with River Rymsha (Huntington Woods, Michigan) and Alex Bontje (Nobelton, Ontario) drawing assists at 11:29 for a 1-0 Wenatchee lead.
The Magicians would tie the game early in the third on a Cody Milligan shorthanded breakaway goal. The unassisted counter, coming at 3:55 of the third, tied the game 1-1. Minnesota then grabbed the lead on a tip-in in tight by Mario Bianchi, off a crossing feed from the right wing. Tony Uglem and Eetu Karvinen assisted at 10:21, putting the Magicians on top 2-1. The Wild pressed the attack through the rest of regulation, pulling the goalie in the final minute, but weren't able to get the equalizer as Minnesota hung on for the 2-1 win.
Wenatchee outshot the Magicians 34-24 on the night. Mackenzie Sawyer (Landsdowne, Canada) made 22 saves, while Atte Tolvanen made 33 saves for Minnesota. The Wild was a perfect 5-of-5 on the penalty kill, while going 0-for-8 on the power play. "We played pretty well." said Wenatchee Head Coach Bliss Littler. "I'm pretty happy with how we played. A couple of mistakes cost us, but a learning experience that a young team will make. Hopefully we learned our lesson sooner rather than later, but overall it was a good effort on our part." On the play of his goaltender, Littler said "I thought he (Sawyer) played very well, he gave us a chance to win."
The Magicians improve to 2-0-1 on the season, the Wild move to 2-1-0.
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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