BELLINGHAM BLAZERS @ SEATTLE TOTEMS

 

02.01.17 – Bellingham 4, Seattle 1

 

The Bellingham Blazers made a trip over to Seattle for a single mid-week game before returning home for a home series against Fresno.

 

Seattle led early on a Colby Schaeffer goal, but Bellingham’s Malik Cheng scored to tie it up, then found the net again to put the Blazers up 29 seconds into the second period. 

 

Alexander Olson turned aside 24 of 25 shots for the Blazers – including 16 saves in the first period.

 

Mark MacDonald and Wyatt Meiers each had a goal and an assist for Bellingham.

 

CASPER COYOTES @ BUTTE COBRAS

 

02.02.17 – Casper 5, Butte 2

02.03.17 – Butte 3, Casper 2

02.04.17 – Butte 4, Casper 2

 

The Butte Cobras are looking more and more like a legit team to watch in the Northwest Division.  A loss to Casper in the series opener snapped a streak of 16 straight games without a loss in regulation (14-0-2), but they bounced back with two wins to put them at 16-1-2 since December 8.

 

Dmitry Kuznetsov (2-1-3), Sven Zinsli (0-3-3) and Daniel Kornakker (31 saves on 33 shots) paced the Coyotes to a 5-2 streak-busting win on Thursday.

 

Artsiom Puntus and Earl Webb scored for Butte.

 

The Cobras got things back on track with a 3-2 win on Friday.  Lukas Lojka gave Casper a 2-1 lead at 6:28 of the second period but Jan Marcilis came through for the Cobras, responding 1:12 later to tie it back up, then scoring the game-winner at 8:20 of the third period.

 

Both sides benefitted from strong goaltending performances with Butte’s Eric Ahlberg (30 saves) edging Casper’s Adam Andersson (31 saves).

 

Petr Panacek assisted on all three Cobras goals.

 

Two Butte goals 43 seconds apart early in the third period broke open a close game and sparked the Cobras to a 4-2 win Saturday.

 

Panacek picked up a couple more assists, and Webb added three, but Ahlberg (45 saves) was the game-changer, helping the Cobras win a game in which they were out-shot, 47-21.

 

Kuznetsov had a goal and an assist for Casper.

 

VALENCIA FLYERS @ LAS VEGAS STORM

 

02.02.17 – Las Vegas 4, Valencia 1

02.03.17 – Valencia 7, Las Vegas 6 (OT)

02.04.17 – Valencia 6, Las Vegas 3

 

The Las Vegas Storm are looking like a team that might make some noise come the Western Division playoffs.  They picked up three points in their series with the second-place Valencia Flyers – a team they have played very tough six times in the last three weeks.

 

The Storm won, 4-1, on Thursday, jumping on a Flyers team that was late arriving due to travel issues and may have left their skating legs on the bus.

 

The game went into the third period tied, 1-1, but Las Vegas scored three unanswered goals.  Amandus Laukkanen, at 5:49, and Alex Roth, at 8:09, put an end to any thoughts the Flyers might have had about salvaging the game.

 

Former Flyer Spencer Kozlowski made 42 saves against his former team – 14 in each period.

 

On Friday, Valencia jumped out to leads of 3-0 in the first period, and 5-1 in the second, but the Storm pushed back.  Las Vegas scored four unanswered goals to tie the game up.

 

Isiah Letendre’s second goal of the game completed the comeback and tied the game, 5-5, at 4:21 of the third period. 

 

Tagir Khafizov put Valencia back in front, 6-5, but again it was Letendre tying the score for the Storm as he completed the hat trick with 11:00 left in the third period.  The rest of that time went by without another goal and the game went to overtime.

 

Jakob Kranabetter’s second tally of the game for Valencia came at 4:12 of the first overtime and gave the Flyers the win.

 

It wasn’t a stellar night for either goaltender but, in the end, Valencia’s Joakim Blomgren (42 saves) got the best of Kozlowski (36 saves).

 

Patrik Tondl also scored a pair of goals for the Flyers.  Ted Astrom had a goal and three assists for the Storm.

 

The Flyers may not have started the series well, but they finished strong.  Las Vegas led, 2-0, after the first period of Saturday’s series finale, but Valencia came back for a 6-3 win.

 

Jordan Hank scored twice and Garret Kingsbury made 25 saves for Valencia.

 

Kozlowski, playing his third game in three days, made 36 more saves for Las Vegas.

 

ONTARIO AVALANCHE @ LONG BEACH BOMBERS

 

02.02.17 – Long Beach 4, Ontario 1

 

Roman Serafimovich scored twice to help the Long Beach Bombers build a 3-0 lead on their way to a 4-1 win on home ice Thursday over the Ontario Avalanche.

 

Nick Short and Kiril Markevich each assisted on three of the four Bombers goals and Domenic Bosetti made 30 saves for Long Beach.

 

Filip Subrt made 46 saves for Ontario – 21 of them in the first period to keep the Avs in the game.  William Ma scored the Ontario goal.

 

IDAHO JR. STEELHEADS @ UTAH OUTLIERS

 

02.03.17 – Utah 3, Idaho 2 (2 OT)

02.04.17 – Idaho 2, Utah 0

02.05.17 – Idaho 2, Utah 0

 

The Utah Outliers posted their latest statement win, defeating Idaho on Friday, but the Jr. Steelheads responded with back-to-back shutouts and left Utah with five of a possible six points.

 

Viktor Tiutchenko’s second goal of the game – at 1:39 of the second overtime – gave Utah a 3-2 win on Friday.  It completed a comeback from a 2-0 deficit for the Outliers.

 

Utah’s Marcus Rudhage kicked out 27 of 29 shots in the game for the win.  The Outliers out-shot the Jr. Steelheads, 38-29, for the game and 9-1 in overtime.  Tyler Matthews made 35 saves for Idaho.

 

Tiutchenko’s double-OT winner was the last goal Utah scored in the series as the Jr. Steelheads posted 2-0 shutout wins Saturday and Sunday.

 

Sergei Pysarenko stopped all 28 Outliers shots on Saturday.  Oleg Losev in the first period, and Matthew Kindred in the third, were the goal scorers for Idaho.

 

Utah mustered 29 shots in Sunday’s game, but Pysarenko was again perfect between the pipes for Idaho.  Losev, in the first period again, and Tyler Berndt as time expired in the second, supplied the goals for Idaho.

 

The shutouts were the fifth and sixth of the season for Pysarenko.

 

SPRINGFIELD EXPRESS @ WICHITA JR. THUNDER

 

02.03.17 – Springfield 5, Wichita 4

02.04.17 – Wichita 7, Springfield 1

02.05.17 – Springfield 5, Wichita 4

 

The Springfield Express and Wichita Jr. Thunder are battling for third place in the Mid-Western Division and Springfield opened up a four-point lead after taking two of three games in Wichita – twice scoring late in the third period for a one-goal win in regulation.

 

On Friday, the Express rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits to take a 4-3 lead on a Robin Jansson goal with 10:31 left in the third period. 

 

Wichita’s Peter Cicmanec scored a goal in each period – and his third of the game tied it back up, 4-4, with 6:12 left.

 

Jamison Westaby scored the game-winner for Springfield with 3:38 left in regulation.

 

Hunter Lovdokken had two goals and an assist for the Express, who got 26 saves from Bailey Stephens.

 

Erik Spath made 39 saves in a losing effort for Wichita.

 

The Jr. Thunder rolled to a 7-1 win in Saturday’s game.  The game was tied, 1-1, after the first period, and was only 3-1 Wichita after two, but the Jr. Thunder tacked on four unanswered goals in the third period.

 

David Good scored two goals and assisted on a third while Oskar Gullstrom and Cicmanec both had a goal and three assists.

 

Wichita goaltender Adam Conkling allowed just one of 36 shots to get past him.

 

The Express were ahead, 4-3, in the final minute of Sunday’s game.  Cicmanec tied it up with 43 seconds left, but Gael Lubwele’s unassisted goal with 13 seconds left gave Springfield another clutch win.

 

Michael Crawford scored two goals for Springfield and Stephens made 46 saves.

 

EL PASO RHINOS @ OKLAHOMA CITY BLAZERS

 

02.03.17 – Oklahoma City 7, El Paso 2

02.04.17 – El Paso 6, Oklahoma City 3

02.05.17 – El Paso 3, Oklahoma City 1

 

In a crucial series in the race for the Mid-Western Division title, the Oklahoma City Blazers opened up a four-point lead over the El Paso Rhinos by winning Friday’s game, but the Rhinos came back to win the next two and create a tie for the top spot.

 

Kiril Romanov scored twice while Ivan Bondarenko and Cory King both collected three assists in Friday’s 7-2 OKC win.  Drennan Atherton turned aside 36 of 38 shots for the Blazers, allowing a pair of goals to El Paso’s Phil Pugliese.

 

El Paso came out firing on Saturday, taking a 3-0 lead after the first period and going on to a 6-3 win.

 

Artur Pavliukov made 28 saves and Chaseton Sare (2-2-4) and Alex Johanson each scored twice for the Rhinos.

 

Sunday’s game went into the third period tied, 1-1, before John Erramouspe scored twice in the final frame to give El Paso a 3-1 win.

 

Pavliukov was the difference, allowing just one goal on 42 shots.

 

Atherton made 35 saves for the Blazers, who’s goal came off the stick of Griffin Wiencek.

 

SEATTLE TOTEMS @ SOUTHERN OREGON SPARTANS

 

02.03.17 – Southern Oregon 2, Seattle 0

02.04.17 – Southern Oregon 6, Seattle 2

 

The Southern Oregon Spartans took a pair of games from the visiting Seattle Totems, staying within a point of first-place Idaho in the Northwest Division.

 

Mark Vlahovic posted a 25-save shutout and Cy Jensen scored both Southern Oregon goals in a 2-0 Spartans win on Friday.  Cameron Seto assisted on both goals while WSHL scoring leader Chris Seto was held off the scoresheet.

 

Newcomer Rasmus Mortenson was between the pipes for visiting Seattle and made a big impression in his Totems debut, making 44 saves on 46 shots.

 

Jensen added another goal and two assists in Southern Oregon’s 6-2 win on Saturday.  Chris Seto scored his 58th goal of the year and also had an assist while Sean McLaren dished out three helpers.

 

Vlahovic made 26 more saves for the Spartans before leaving the game in the third period.  Mortensen made 30 of his 37 saves through the first two periods for the Totems.

 

FRESNO MONSTERS @ BELLINGHAM BLAZERS

 

02.03.17 – Fresno 4, Bellingham 3

02.04.17 – Fresno 5, Bellingham 4

02.05.17 – Fresno 7, Bellingham 0

 

The Fresno Monsters kept themselves within striking distance of home ice in the Western Division, posting a three-game road sweep in Bellingham, with two of the three wins coming in one-goal games.

 

Four different Monsters scored in Friday’s 4-3 win, including Artem Verbenko, who supplied the game-winner late in the second period.

 

Ilya Abubakirov’s second tally of the game got Bellingham with a goal with 6:52 left, but they were unable to get the tying goal past Fresno’s Brett Akins (29 saves).

 

Fresno was up 3-0 before Bellingham got on the board Saturday.  The Blazers made a comeback but it came up short in a 5-4 Monsters win.

 

Thomas Steven (2-1-3), Jaiden Laporte (1-2-3) and Trey Caldwell (0-3-3) had three points apiece for Bellingham.

 

Nakita Anistratenko scored twice and Max Elmgren made 13 of his 26 saves in the third period to preserve the win for Fresno.

 

Nick Gary posted a 29-save shutout for Fresno in Sunday’s 7-0 win.  Michael Ballard, Cody Key and Dylan Ushkowski all scored twice for the Monsters.

 

OGDEN MUSTANGS @ CHEYENNE STAMPEDE

 

02.03.17 – Ogden 8, Cheyenne 2

02.04.17 – Ogden 6, Cheyenne 2

02.05.17 – Ogden 7, Cheyenne 2

 

The Ogden Mustangs moved into first place in the Mountain Division, taking all six points from the Stampede in Cheyenne, and leap-frogging the idle Colorado Jr. Eagles.

 

Austin Shead’s four-goal game led the way for Ogden in an 8-2 win on Friday.  Alex Forbes (2-1-3) and Corey Iapalucci (0-3-3) were also big contributors for the Mustangs and Francis Asselin (24 saves) took care of the netminding.

 

Cheyenne’s Josef Dusenka faced 62 shots, making 54 saves, and Austin Dittenhafer and Alexandre Gauthier scored for the Stampede.

 

Ogden won again, 6-2, on Saturday, opening up a 4-0 lead in the first period.  Robert Durefors (2-1-3) and Iapalucci (0-3-3) led the way offensively for the Mustangs while Vladimir Cibulka (9 saves) and Alexander Larsson (12 saves) split the duties between the pipes.

 

Ogden peppered the Cheyenne net with 71 shots, but David Karlsson (41 saves) and Alexander Belitskiy (24 saves) managed to keep the game close.  The tandem combined to stop 48 of 50 shots over the last two periods.

 

Ogden completed the sweep and took sole possession of first place with a 7-2 win on Sunday.

 

Larsson (16 saves) and Asselin (24 saves) split the game in the Mustangs’ net and Max Dorfman scored twice for Ogden.

 

Dusenka went the distance for Cheyenne, making 52 saves.

 

LONG BEACH BOMBERS @ SAN DIEGO SABERS

 

02.03.17 – Long Beach 7, San Diego 3

 

Friday’s game in San Diego between the Sabers and the visiting Long Beach Bombers was scoreless after one period, then saw eight goals – five from Long Beach – scored in the second period.  The Bombers added a pair in the third period for a 7-3 win.

 

Erik Fagerlin and Roman Serafimovich each scored a pair of goals for the Bombers and Joel Larsson picked up three assists.

 

Max Barr started for Long Beach and made 32 saves.  San Diego’s Alexander Johansson made 47 stops.

 

PHOENIX KNIGHTS VS. ARIZONA HAWKS (home-and-home series)

 

02.03.17 – Phoenix 5 @ Arizona 1

02.04.17 – Arizona 3 @ Phoenix 4 (2 OT)

 

Wins have been hard to come by for the Arizona Hawks this season.  They almost picked one up on the road on Saturday, but they came up short in double-overtime to drop both ends of their home-and-home series with the rival Phoenix Knights.

 

The Hawks out-shot Phoenix, 35-26, but the Knights won, 5-1, in Peoria on Friday night.  Cameron Chabot (2-2-4) figured in four of the five Phoenix goals, Ashton Richardt (1-2-3) picked up three points, and Tim Zurbuchen stopped 34 of 35 shots – making 32 of his saves over the final two periods.

 

Vadim Ovcharov scored the Arizona goal.

 

Saturday’s game in Gilbert was scoreless until the 7:23 mark of the second period when Chabot gave the Knights the 1-0 lead.  That was the only goal of the first two periods, but things got interesting in the third.

 

The Hawks struck in rapid succession, taking a 3-1 lead on three goals in a span of 3:24.

 

Chabot got the Knights back within a goal, then Chris Crowley sent the game to overtime when he tied it up with 1:50 left in regulation.

 

Richardt competed the Phoenix comeback at 2:28 of the second overtime, making a winner of Zurbuchen (31 saves).

 

Janne Salminen also had 31 saves for the Hawks, including five in overtime as the Knights out-shot Arizona, 6-0, in sudden-death.

 

LONG BEACH BOMBERS @ ONTARIO AVALANCHE

 

02.04.17 – Long Beach 5, Ontario 3

 

The Long Beach Bombers scored three times in the last 10 minutes of the game to come back and beat the Ontario Avalanche, 5-3, on Saturday.

 

Amir Burguev tallied the game-winning goal with 5:09 left in the third period. 

 

Robert Roslund scored twice and Domenic Bosetti made 31 saves to earn his 21st win of the season for Long Beach, tying him for the league lead in that department.

 

Owen Liskiewicz made 37 saves for the Avalanche and Manuel Mancha had a goal and an assist.

 

ONTARIO AVALANCHE @ SAN DIEGO SABERS

 

02.05.17 – San Diego 3, Ontario 2 (SO)

 

The San Diego Sabers and Ontario Avalanche battled through the final 29:07 of regulation and another 10 minutes of sudden-death overtime tied, 2-2, before going to a shootout, where the Sabers prevailed.

 

San Diego went ahead in front of their home fans, 1-0, just 2:16 into the game on a goal by Keegan O’Brien.

 

Kolten Nelson and Filip Stensson put Ontario ahead, 2-1, but the Sabers tied it back up on Mattias Eklund’s goal at 10:53 of the second period.

 

In a tremendous goaltending battle, Alexander Johansson made an incredible 56 saves for San Diego and then prevailed in the shootout over Ontario’s Filip Subrt, who ended the game with 42 saves.

 

--- compiled by Harrington Sports Media