Wild Win Another Shootout At Kenai River
February 1, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Soldotna, AK. - The Wenatchee Wild was back at the Soldotna Sports Center Friday night to take on the Kenai River Brown Bears and for the second night in a row it took more than extra time, with the Wild prevailing in a shootout, 4-3.
Kenai River opened the scoring just past the midway point of the opening period on a goal by Jacob Wolter, assisted by Tommy Dierl at 10:50, giving the Brown Bears a 1-0 lead. Wenatchee wouldn't wait long to tie it up, as Nicholas Rivera (Pacific Palisades, California) tipped one home from the right of the goal. Matthew Nuttle (Marilla, New York) assisted at 12:27, tying the game 1-1. The Wild would take the lead soon after, as Omar Mullan (Dearborn, Michigan) scored, finishing off a nice passing play. Alex Rauter (Morristown, New Jersey) and David Powlowski (Rochester, New York) drew the assists at 15:36, putting Wenatchee on top, 2-1.
The Wild increased the lead in the second period, on a goal from just inside the slot side of the left wing circle by Jakob Ahlgren (Fergus Falls, Minnesota). Gadel Gumerov (Nizhnekamsk, Russia) and Joseph Kaszupski (Henderson, Nevada) assisted at 15:46, giving Wenatchee a 3-1 lead.
The game remained 3-1 Wild through most of the third period, when Kenai River would pull the goaltender for an extra attacker. With time winding down, the Brown Bears would score to make it a one-goal game. Zack Zulkanycz scored the extra attacker goal with Jack Gesert assisting at 18:59, making it a 3-2 game. Then, with just under 4 ticks remaining and the goaltender off again, another extra attacker goal, this one from Sebastian Fuchs, with Jacob Davidson and Jake Bushey assisting at 19:57, tied the game 3-3 and forced overtime for the second night in a row.
Kenai River controlled the play in overtime, but several big saves by Chase Perry (Andover, Minnesota) kept the game tied, forcing a shootout once again.
Powlowski scored in round two and Ahlgren in round three for Wenatchee, while Albin Karlsson and Fuchs scored in rounds two and three for the Brown Bears. After an Andre Pison (Herlev, Denmark) goal in round five for the Wild put them on top, Perry stopped Nathan Colwell with a glove save to finish off the shootout, giving Wenatchee the extra standings point with the 4-3 win. "Our first period was good" said Wenatchee Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler, "But in the end, it wasn't one of our better periods. We got a little better in the second; I thought we played extremely well in the third until the last minute and a half. They got real aggressive, we got real passive and they made a few plays. Proud that we were able to get the extra point in the shootout. You give up two empty net goals at the end of the hockey game, a lot of times you're going to hang your heads and get beat, but our guys hung in there and it was nice for us to get the extra point." Littler continued, saying "Hopefully that's a sign of maturity. If this group wants to jump all the way in, we'll have a chance to win a lot more games."
Kenai River outshot the Wild 32-20 on the night. Perry made 29 saves for Wenatchee, while Kris Oldham had 16 saves for the Brown Bears. The Wild were 0-for-4 on the power play and 5-of-5 on the penalty kill.
The Wild is now 21-17-5; Kenai River is 21-17-5.
Wenatchee faces Kenai River once more, tomorrow (Saturday), then moves on to Fairbanks for three more February 6th, 7th and 8th, before returning home to face the Soo on February 14th and 15th. Individual and group game tickets for all home games are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825).
North American Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2014
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- Lelievre's Late Heroics Fall Short in 5-4 Shootout Loss - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Banged-Up Bruins Swept by Cats - Austin Bruins
- Warriors beat Eagles - Michigan Warriors
- Tomahawks Defeat Fighting Falcons, Earn 3 of 4 Points - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Wild Win Another Shootout At Kenai River - Wenatchee Wild
- Bulls Beat Brahmas 3-1 - Amarillo Bulls
- Jacks Pour It on in 9-2 Rout of Wichita Falls - Odessa Jackalopes
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