Wild Fall in First Game of Series
Published on April 21, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The Wenatchee Wild suffered a 5-2 lossto the Fairbanks Ice Dogs Friday in Game 1 of the West Division finals at theBig Dipper Ice Arena. Game 2 is Saturday back at the Big Dipper Ice Arena.Faceoff is set for 8:30 p.m. (PST).
The Wild took just five first-period shots, but held a 2-1lead after 20 minutes of play. Ben Carey(Centennial, Colo.) scored the first goal of the series 2:53 after the openingfaceoff when he lit the lamp on a wrist shot from the right circle off of arush into the Fairbanks zone. BlakeRoubos (Niagara Falls, Ontario) earned the primary assist for hisleague-leading ninth point of the playoffs. Chris Knudson (North Barrington, Ill.) also assisted.
Jerad Tafoya (HighlandRanch, Colo.) increased Wenatchee's lead to 2-0 with 4:38 remaining before thefirst intermission when he scored on a wrist shot from his knees from thebottom of the right circle. Knudson and KyleHuson (Parker, Colo.) assisted.
The Ice Dogs came back and cut the Wild lead in half with2:05 remaining in the first period when Max Birkinbine punched in his team'sfirst goal of the game. Alex Hajdukovich and Garret Clemment assisted.
The Wild maintained their 2-1 lead through 19 minutes and 45seconds of the second period before Birkinbine forced a tie on his second goalof the contest. Hajdukovich and Anton Racklin assisted.
The Ice Dogs scored three goals in the final stanza.Hajdukovich scored the first of those three a little less than six minutes intothe period. Jeff Earnest and Tayler Munson added insurance goals later in theperiod.
Robert Nichols(Dallas, Texas) absorbed the loss. He made 24 saves on 29 shots. Alex Fons turnedaway 18 of Wenatchee's 20 shots to earn his third win of the postseason. Bothteams went 0-for-2 on their power play chances.
Hajudkovich led the Ice Dogs with a goal and two assists. Birkinbinescored two goals while Clemment and Racklin each recorded a pair of assists.Knudson had a pair of assists for the Wild.
Fans are invited to watch the second game of the divisionalfinals on the big screen at the Town Toyota Center. Doors will open at 7:45p.m., and admission is free for season ticket holders. For all others,admission is just $5. The game will also be broadcast live on 560 AM KPQ and onlineat www.KPQ.com. For a small fee, all of theWild's games can also be viewed live online at www.FASTHockey.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 21, 2012
- Bruins win in overtime - Austin Bruins
- Port Huron Dominates Game Two, Kalamazoo Faces Elimination - Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
- Wild Fall in First Game of Series - Wenatchee Wild
- Bulls' Big Rally Lifts Them Past Topeka 8-6 - Amarillo Bulls
- Richter's Five-Point Night Boosts Bobcats to Series Lead - Bismarck Bobcats
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