Friday Finals: Louisiana Clinches an Overtime Win in Season Opener

Daniel Vihavainen scored a goal in OT, clinching the win for the Drillers

Louisiana 3 @ Austin 2 (OT) - Louisiana opened the 2026-27 season with an overtime victory on the road at Austin. The game would also mark the first game behind the bench for Austin head coach Harrison Fenney. The Drillers would open the scoring early, as Joey Moore III put it past goaltender Gavin Morris at 4:35 of the period. Midway through the second period, Andrew Kuzhoshko would tack on that lead, making the score 2-0. Then the Ice Bats would answer back just minutes later with a power-play goal from Guhnar Hillman. Louisiana would try to hold on to the one-goal lead for most of the third period, but defenseman Karson Abel would net the tying goal late with only 1:35 left in the period, forcing overtime. In overtime, defenseman Daniel Vihavinen scored the overtime winner, giving the Drillers the road win. Austin’s Gavin Morris would turn aside 43 shots despite the loss.

Wausau 3 @ Peoria 8 - The Peoria Mustangs ignited their offense to secure an emphatic home victory over the Wausau Cyclones on opening night, marking a memorable debut for both new head coaches in Central Division action. Special teams dictated the tempo across the first 40 minutes. Peoria broke the ice late in the first period when Zach Staelgraeve capitalized on the power play. The battle on the man advantage surged in the second period, beginning with Breyon Maroney extending the Mustangs' lead. Jacob Maxon quickly responded for the Cyclones, tallying back-to-back power-play goals to pull Wausau level. Peoria regained full command before the intermission, however, as Brendan Miller and Landen Smith each buried power-play markers to restore a two-goal cushion. While the opening two periods were dominated entirely by man-advantage execution, the third period finally produced 5-on-5 hockey. Miller opened the final frame with the game's first even-strength tally just 35 seconds in, before Hayden Gray followed suit at even strength to pad the Peoria lead. Brayden Myers answered for Wausau at 5-on-5 midway through the frame, but Miller completed his hat trick on the power play, and Braden Hillebrand capped the scoring in the final minutes. Goaltender Nolan Sanderson turned aside 27 shots to earn the victory between the pipes, while Parker Nevenhoven made 29 saves for the Cyclones.