Friday Finals: Cyclones Clinch Playoff Spot

Norwich 4 @ Northeast 5 (SO) - Knocking on the door of clinching a playoff spot, the Northeast Generals picked up a huge 5-4 comeback shootout win over the Norwich Sea Captains. The Sea Captains were up 4-0 early thanks to two goals by forward Ryan Bernard in the first period, followed by another pair of goals in the second by forward Mitchell Goodman and defenseman Jake Wilkerson. A different skater scored the following four goals for the Northeast generals, capped off by forward Liam Schaentzler slapping in the game-tying goal with a little over five minutes left in regulation. In the shootout period, Schaentzler was successful in the first attempt, and then forward Easton Sankey was the hero, scoring the final shootout goal to cap off the comeback.

Maine 1 @ Binghamton 4 - The Binghamton Buzz, who lead the East Division and have already clinched a playoff spot, picked up the win over the Maine Nordiques 4-1. Binghamton forwards Preston Peterson, Ethan Miller, Daniel Tirendi, and Brody Bess each scored a goal in the win. Tirendi's goal was the first of the 19-year-old's NA3HL career, and Binghamton goalie Andrew Peterson saved 29 of 30 goals. Maine goalie Gabe Pomerleau saved 47 of 51. With the loss, the Nordiques sit in the lower half of the East Division. Maine has 35 points and is ranked fifth.

Atlanta 1 @ Texas R 8 - Clawing to clinch a playoff spot, the Texas Roadrunners made it look easy in their 8-1 win over the Atlanta Capitals. Texas scored five goals in the first period, including one from forward Cole Stranathan. He scored another in the third period, increasing his season goal total to six. Texas goalie Hunter Houle saved 29 of 30 attempts. Three teams in the South Division have already earned a playoff spot, and the Roadrunners are not one of them. They are ranked fifth with 31 points and are 23 points away from fourth.

Louisiana 9 @ Tulsa 2 - The Louisiana Drillers erupted for nine goals in their win over the Tulsa Jr. Oilers. The Drillers have won six straight, lead the South Division, and have already secured a playoff spot. Conversely, Tulsa ranks last in the South Division and has lost the last ten of its games. It was a complete team effort for the Drillers, who had nine separate skaters score a goal in the win. Louisiana's offense is clicking at the right time, as the group has outscored its opponents 28-4 in its previous three games.

Wisconsin 6 @ Rochester 4 - The Wisconsin Woodsmen ended their five-game losing game streak by winning over the Rochester Grizzlies, who have now lost two in a row. Both teams are in the middle of the Central Division standings, working to clinch a playoff spot. Following a scoreless first period, Wisconsin scored three unanswered. Rochester, though, answered back with three goals in a row from defenseman Ben Parent and forwards Lennard Habeck and Aidan Emerich. The game was tied 4-4 with three minutes to go when Wisconsin forward Nolan Mix scored back-to-back goals to seal the victory.

Granite City 2 @ Minnesota M 3 - The Minnesota Moose helped their playoff odds by securing a close back-and-forth win over the Granite City Lumberjacks, the leading team in the West Division who have already clinched a playoff spot. Minnesota forward Brady Johnson scored two goals in the win, increasing his season goal total to 23, the most on the team and the 21st most in the NA3HL. There weren't a ton of shots on goal by either team. Granite City goalie Trent Peterson saved 16 of 19, and Minnesota goalie Dylan Posch saved 18 of 20.

New Mexico 2 @ Texas B 5 - The Texas Brahmas, who have already clinched a playoff spot, kept their hot streak going and scored five goals in their win over the New Mexico Ice Wolves. The Brahmas have now scored 20 goals in their past four games. The turning point in the contest was the second period. Texas scored five unanswered, including two from forward Carter Kotrba, his 15th and 16th of the season. The Ice Wolves had 13 more shots on goal than the Brahmas, but thanks to Texas goalie Luke Romney, New Mexico was limited to just two goals. Much of the same for Romney, who has the ninth-best save percentage in the league .926.

St. Louis 2 @ Wausau 5 - Working toward clinching a playoff spot, the Wausau Cyclones, who sit second in the Central Division, beat the St. Louis Jr. Blues 5-2. The Cyclones outshot the Jr. Blues 39 to 21 and scored four goals in the second period. Among the four goals, two were scored by forward Landon Bechtolt. The loss for the Jr. Blues is damning for their playoff hopes, as they now sit 14 points outside of fourth place. 

Mason City 2 @ Alexandria 5 - It would take nearly the entire opening frame before the first goal of the game would be scored. Ben Petroske would light the lamp in the final minute of the first to put the Toros up by one. The second period would have no scoring, but the third period would be action-packed. Eli Fletcher would score to tie the game for the Blizzard, but Kellen Kantaris would regain the Mason City lead. That is until three consecutive goals from Caleb Waller, Jacob Simpson, Fletcher, would put the Alexandria up late. Ashton Collings would score late to ice this one, with Jayden Serene picking up the 23-save win.

Minnesota W 1 @ Willmar 2 - Minnesota would find themselves on the powerplay early and would convert quickly with a goal from Tyler Starich. In the second, the WarHawks would strike on their first power play of the game as well, with Mason Wanka lighting the lamp. Minutes later, Wanka would score again to give Wilmar their first lead of the game. This lead would hold on for the remaining game and Kai Girard would be credited with the victory, making 29 saves.

Bozeman 1 @ Badlands 6 - Thayne Coston and Zach Vockler would score goals to put the Sabres up by two early and the lead would later be extended from a powerplay marker by Dawson Wirth. Spencer Wilkinson would get the Icedogs on the board but would head into the locker room down two. The second period would have no score, but the third would see Wirth and Vockler getting their second goals of the night. Rhyan Olson would pick up another goal and Riley Swanson would make 21 saves on the night.

Great Falls 4 @ Sheridan 2 - In a matchup between two great teams in the league, Chase Hapka would draw first blood with his early marker. Later in the first, Elijah Farris would level this game at one. In the second, Hapka would grab his second goal of the game to put the Americans back up by one. John Lang would add a goal to extend the lead, not before a Sheridan goal would make things interesting. The Americans would hold on, with Sebe Perez adding an empty net goal and Kaden Rhyder playing an amazing game, stopping 41 shots on the night.

El Paso 3 @ Austin 6 - Austin would get things started with a powerplay goal early from Ashton Morin. The first period would finish with no more goals, but two quick goals from Liam McCall and Joseph Gutierrez would give the Rhinos their first lead of the game. Gutierrez would add another goal to give El Paso a two-goal lead midway through the second.  Mikhail Levaniuk would have other plans, as he scored two goals minutes later to tie the game for the Ice Bats. The momentum would carry into the third, as Guhnar Hillman and Thomas Forgrave would stack on goals to give Austin the advantage. Gutierrez would finish the night with an empty netter, completing the hat trick in the 6-3 win.

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