BELLINGHAM BLAZERS VS. VALENCIA FLYERS
(Photo by Jon Bergman, Blazers)
Bellingham Blazers 9, Valencia Flyers 2:https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8357
Bellingham Blazers 5(OT), Valencia Flyers 4: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8341
Bellingham Blazers 6(OT), Valencia Flyers 5: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8349
The Bellingham Blazers were able to sweep Valencia, but the Flyers woke up after Game 1 and turned it into a dogfight at the Bellingham Sportsplex. A pair of overtime losses sees Valencia to its 18th consecutive setback, tying them with Wichita, for the longest winless drought of the season.
Jermey Dewar had the overtime winner on Saturday and Milo Schneidmiller sealed the deal on Sunday at 2:05 of overtime.
Carter Wickson made 94 saves in the latter two games of the series for Valencia, though the Blazers could count on three different goalies to garner them three wins.
In Game 2, the Flyers got out to the 2-0 lead when Nikhil Pool and Leon Biller connected in the first period. Bellingham consistently tried to beat Wickson in the opening frame but he made a game high 18 saves in the period. Daniel Hebert pulled one back on the power play, for Bellingham, in the second period, but the Flyers still made it 3-1 in subsequent action.
After the team’s exchanged, Daniel Hebert would send it to overtime on his second goal of the game.
Where the Flyers lacked in the opening period of Game 3, they made up for it late in the game, putting up a great comeback attempt that ran out of gas in overtime. The Blazers built a 3-0 lead by the final minute of the first period. Valencia roared back with four straight late in the game, sending it overtime on Leon Biller’s second.
DALLAS SNIPERS VS. WICHITA JR. THUNDER
(Photo by Michelle Holcomb, Snipers)
Dallas Snipers 12, Wichita Jr. Thunder 2: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8339
Dallas Snipers 4, Wichita Jr. Thunder 1: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8348
Dallas Snipers 9, Wichita Jr. Thunder 2: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8355
Now at four wins in a row including the sweep of Wichita, Dallas has overtaken the third spot in the Midwest-Mountain Division and is back to the heights of earlier in the year. Dallas invaded the Wichita Ice Center and bounced the Jr. Thunder at home following three heavy-handed wins.
Artur Aloyan shined for the Texas side as he scored a goal in each game, including two goals on Friday. In total he raked in four goals and four assists over the weekend.
The Jr. Thunder found its only lead to open Game 2 as Braeden Thomas scored making it 1-0 early at 18:57. Dallas eventually ironed out all the kinks and proceeded to get four past Joseph Schaul.
BARRHEAD BOMBERS VS. HINTON TIMBERWOLVES
Hinton Timberwolves 4, Barrhead Bombers 2: Scoresheet TBD
Hinton Timberwolves 3(OT), Barrhead Bombers 2: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8351
Hinton Timberwolves 5, Barrhead Bombers 0: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8360
Barrhead Bombers put forth its best effort of the season and almost upset the Hinton Timberwolves in Game 2 of the series. Barrhead was able to tie the game late in the third period before Brendan Auger lifted the Timberwolves in overtime to its 13th home victory.
Hinton was able to secure Friday night’s victory at the Barrhead Agrena giving them some momentum as it hosted the remaining two games of the weekend. Brock Machholz is largely responsible for such a close Game 2 making several stalwart saves and showcasing his athleticism in net. He made 35 saves as he made his Bomber debut.
Unfortunately for the Bombers, they were not able to keep up the same pace and suffered a shutout loss on Sunday. Kolter Pawlick had a busy night for Hinton, and made 47 saves to gain his ninth win and second shutout of the season.
EDSON AEROS VS. COLD LAKE HORNETS
Edson Aeros 4, Cold Lake Hornets 1: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8342
Edson Aeros 9, Cold Lake Hornets 1: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8350
Edson Aeros 6, Cold Lake Hornets 3: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8362
The ever-dominant Edson Aeros flew past the Hornets securing a sweep and remaining perfect against Cold Lake. Niklas Froden scored seven goals and three assists over the weekend, including a four-goal game, on Saturday night. The Hornets were facing a tall order if they wanted to swoop into third place in their division; they will remain in fourth trailing by one point of the three spot.
Cold Lake extends its winless drought to seven games and the Aeros continue to 19-3-0 on the road—13th consecutive win overall.
UTAH OUTLIERS VS. SOUTHERN OREGON SPARTANS
Utah Outliers 8, Southern Oregon Spartans 0: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8344
Utah Outliers 8, Southern Oregon Spartans 2: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8353
Utah Outliers 15, Southern Oregon Spartans 3: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8359
The clubs faced each other for the first time since late Nov., and the Outliers picked up where they left off against the Spartans. Oscar Wahlgren added to his league-leading shutout count, and is now at nine blanking efforts due to the 17 saves made on Friday.
Jett Arminen and Trent Gephart each had hat tricks. Arminen registered multiple points in all three games and almost had a hat trick on Friday.
Wahlgren earned a second win in as many nights with only nine saves required on Saturday. Southern Oregon didn’t see much offensive zonetime, but was able to capture its only lead of the weekend in the opening goal of Game 2, scored by Kyle Chambers.
SEATTLE TOTEMS VS. OGDEN MUSTANGS
(Photo by Tim Broussard, Mustangs)
Seattle Totems 2, Ogden Mustangs 5: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8343
Seattle Totems 3, Ogden Mustangs 9: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8352
Seattle Totems 1, Ogden Mustangs 9: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8358
The trip to Ogden didn’t manifest any more magic from the Totems, although they did start off strong against a formidable opponent. David Sudbrink had a hat trick on Sunday and Shane Gilbert had a five-point game on Friday.
The Mustang’s, Travis Allen, played to three wins in as many nights, and now has the most wins among their goalies this season, with 16.
Seattle may have triggered uncomfortable memories for Ogden to start the series. The Totems took advantage of a two-man advantage, and a power play, as Albin Modin and Cory Kane made it 2-1 in the first period of Game 1. They skated off with the lead going into the first intermission before the Mustangs made their way into the scoresheet.
Caleb Dolman sparked four unanswered goals with a score at 8:02 of the second frame, en route to the 5-2 final.
Much to Ogden’s dismay, Seattle still had some fight in them to start off Game 2. The Washington side could level the game 1-1 at 9:21, though it would fall to an avalanche of goals in the middle period. Seattle finished the season-series with Ogden losing five straight, but could take pride in being on the short list of teams that beat Ogden this season.
Ogden has won its last 14 games and are now at 22 wins on home ice.
OKLAHOMA CITY BLAZERS VS. NORTHERN COLORADO EAGLES
(Photo by Michelle Holcomb)
Oklahoma City Blazers 3, Northern Colorado Eagles 5: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8345
Oklahoma City Blazers 1, Northern Colorado Eagles 2: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8347
Oklahoma City Blazers 2, Northern Colorado Eagles 5: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8356
Oklahoma City Blazers dropped to the lowest position they have been all season long and are now in fifth place after losing its last four games, including the sweep in Greeley over the weekend. Of note, Marshall Murphy played in his 100th WSHL game after Sunday. He made 21 saves on Friday; 19 on Saturday; And 24 on Sunday. The three wins bring him up 22 victories in the season.
The Blazers had only one lead in the last three games when they were up 1-0 after Noah Henslee scored in the opening minute on Friday.
Newly acquired, Quinn O’Reilly, snagged points in all three games for the Eagles, including four helpers on Sunday, already proving to be a great addition to the roster’s scoring depth.
The Eagles have an 11-point advantage for second place in the division. This is exactly where they want to be at this point in the season, and picking up stretch-run sweeps at home will only serve as a bump in confidence going into the Thorne Cup.
Oklahoma could have avoided the sweep on Saturday but their close effort would not be enough to subdue the home side. It was decided in the second period of Game 2, when Brennan McFarland scored 50 seconds after OKC’s game-tying goal.
LAS VEGAS THUNDERBIRDS VS. ONTARIO AVALANCHE
Las Vegas Thunderbirds 3, Ontario Avalanche 4: Scoresheet TBD
Las Vegas Thunderbirds 3, Ontario Avalanche 6: https://stats.wshl.timetoscore.com/generate-scorecard.php?game_id=8354
Las Vegas Thunderbirds drops back-to-back games to the Ontario Avalanche for the second instance this season. Despite the loss, the T-Birds remain in second place in the Western Division by two points.
For Ontario, it was their third consecutive victory over the Thunderbirds going back to when they last played at Sobe Arena. They almost let the first game, on Friday slip once falling 2-0. A long stretch pass found the tape of Mark Kurlyandchyk who skated into the zone for a 1V1 opportunity against Rhett Bruckner. Kurlyandchyk slid it five-hole and gave the Avalanche the victory.
It wasn’t so close for Las Vegas in Game 2, however. The Sin City squad fell to a 3-0 deficit, and then 6-1 by the 6:03 mark of the second frame.
Las Vegas and Ontario will play one more time this season as the Avalanche will make the trip across the dessert to Sobe Arena to kick off the month of March.
