Wild sweep Ice Dogs
Published on January 23, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - Mitch Torrel (Monticello, Minn.) recorded his second 2-goal game of the season and the Wenatchee Wild earned a 2-game series sweep over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs with a 5-1 win Saturday night at the Town Toyota Center. It was Wenatchee's sixth win in seven games against Fairbanks, which fell 19 points behind Wenatchee for first place in the West Division.
Affiliate player Mark Miller (Massena, N.Y.) gave the Wild an early lead a little over five minutes into the contest when he ripped a wicked wrist shot stick side past Fairbanks netminder Mike Taffe after entering the offensive zone down the right wing at full speed. It was Miller's first goal with the Wild. Eric Johnson (Madison, Wis.) and Armand Deswardt (Dallas, Texas) earned the assists.
Wenatchee increased its lead to 3-0 in the second period on a power play goal by Torrel and an even strength tally by Andrew Christ (Spokane, Wash.). Torrel scored at the 4:07 mark of the second period on a hard wrist shot from the high slot after working for a shooting lane. Deswardt picked up his second assist of the game on Torrel's goal. Brandon Burrell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) also assisted. Burrell's second assist of the game came on Christ's goal, which was also assisted by Nolan Youngmun (Anchorage, Alaska).
Fairbanks clawed back into the game early in the third period on a 5-on-3 power play goal by Mark Pustin, which he scored on a one-timer from the right side. The Ice Dogs actually had a 3-man advantage when Pustin scored, electing to pull Taffe in favor of an extra attacker. Wenatchee came right back, however, retaking its 3-goal lead when Kyle Brodie (Northglenn, Col.) scored on a top shelf wrister from right in front of the Fairbanks net.
Torrel's second goal came with 85 seconds remaining in the contest after the Ice Dogs turned the puck over in their own zone during a 4-on-4 situation. Torrel beat Taffe with a low wrist shot that trickled into the net. Miller was credited with the assist, which was his second point of the game and third point of the weekend series. Torrel concluded the series against Fairbanks with three goals to increase his season goal total to 10.
Brandon Jaeger (Champlin, Minn.) made 35 saves on 36 shots to improve to 13-2-1. The Wild took 51 shots on Taffe, who made 46 saves.
Wenatchee benefited from spectacular special teams play during the series, scoring six power play goals on 14 opportunities and limiting Fairbanks' top-ranked power play to just two goals on 19 chances.
The Wild will be back in action at the Town Toyota Center next weekend (Jan. 29 & 30) in a 2-game series against the Alaska Avalanche. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2010
- Wild sweep Ice Dogs - Wenatchee Wild
- Stars drop shootout, 4-3 - Traverse City North Stars
- Bobcats Hang on for 5-4 Shootout Win - Bismarck Bobcats
- Rangers Complete Sweep - Marquette Rangers
- Wild Back On Track - Wenatchee Wild
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