Wild Wins in OT
Published on December 4, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
WENATCHEE, Wash. - Nick Kulmanovsky (Fairbanks, Alaska) made 45 saves, Carl-Johan Sjogren (Sodertalje, Sweden) forced overtime with 22 seconds remaining in regulation and Tyler Hope (McKinney, Texas) scored the game-winning goal for the Wenatchee Wild in a magical, come-from-behind 3-2 overtime victory over the Alaska Avalanche Friday night at the Town Toyota Center. The win was the Wild's second straight and came with Craig Patrick, one of the team's founders, behind the bench to help coach.
After a scoreless first period, Jacob Barber lit the lamp for the first time when he scored on an unassisted breakaway with 5:35 remaining in the second period. The Wild came right back, knotting the game 1-1 at 17:19 on John Mejia's (Chicago, Ill.) first goal in a Wild jersey. Mejia, known more for his physical style of play than his scoring prowess, tapped the puck into the net off a deft pass from Blake Saylor (Centennial, Colo.) that slid through the top of the goal crease. Jordan Allan (West Richland, Wash.) also assisted.
Alaska reclaimed the lead, 2-1, near the midpoint of the third period when Matt Friese scored in close on his backhand. The Wild went on to play a majority of the remainder of the third frame shorthanded and even faced two 2-man disadvantages. However, Kulmanovsky refused to give the Avalanche an insurance goal and, with 22 seconds remaining in regulation, Sjogren sent the game to overtime.
With Kulamanovsky on the bench in favor of an extra attacker and off a faceoff in the Alaska zone, D.J. Vandercook (Farmington Hills, Mich.) threw a shot at Avalanche netminder Landon Peterson. Peterson made the first save, but Sjogren buried the rebound 5-hole to force overtime. Eliot Grauer (Mukioteo, Wash.) also assisted.
In overtime, Hope entered the offensive zone down the left wing off a pass from Grauer, hit the breaks at the top of the far circle and beat Peterson with a tricky wrist shot at the 2:21 mark to cap an improbable come-from-behind win.
Kulmanovsky, who earned his second straight win in as many starts with the Wild, was the difference in the contest. He made 45 saves on 47 shots and shut down the Avalanche power play, which went 0-for-9. Peterson made 27 saves on 30 shots for the Avalanche.
Hope's game-winner was his sixth goal in his last five games dating back to Nov. 19 when he recorded a hat trick against the Kenai River Brown Bears. Sjogren's game-tying marker was his fourth goal in his last three contests.
The Wild (15-10-2) will try to sweep the Avs at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday. The Wild will host its Third Annual Teddy Bear Toss during Saturday's game. Fans attending the game are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped teddy bears to the rink and throw them onto the ice after the Wild scores its first goal. All teddy bears will be donated to local charities.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2010
- Motor City Doubles up TC - Traverse City North Stars
- IceRays Get the Horns from the Bulls, 5-2 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Jr. Blues Down Hitmen - Springfield Jr. Blues
- 'Runners Dominate Bandits in 5-2 Win - Topeka Pilots
- Wild Wins in OT - Wenatchee Wild
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