Austin Bruins 4 @ Minot Minotauros 3 (3 OT) (Austin wins best of five series, 3-1) – It took the longest game in NAHL history (modern era), but the Austin Bruins outlasted in the Minot Minotauros in three overtime’s, 4-3, to win their best of five series 3-1 and advance to the Central Finals where they will face Bismarck. Forward Lucas Kohls turned out to the be hero as he scored twice in the game, including the triple OT-winner. Minot held a 2-0 lead after the 1st period on goals from Tim Donohue and Luke Voltin. Austin responded with three goals in the 2nd period from Easton Viitala, Trey Dodd and Kohls. Trey Dodd scored for Minot to tie the score at 3-3. The teams then played what was to be the longest game in the NAHL modern era (2003-present), which included almost four more scoreless periods of play as both goalies, Austin’s Nick Lehr (50 saves) and Minot’s Brandon Wildung (67 saves), kept their teams alive with save after save. The game-winner came after a Bruins rush that saw Wildung make two stops, but a Kohls crashed the net to pick up a loose rebound and put it away for the series clincher. Boxscore
Minnesota Wilderness 0 @ Wenatchee Wild 1 (OT) (Wenatchee wins best of five series, 3-2) – Omar Mullan fired home a goal late in overtime to send the Wenatchee Wild past the Minnesota Wilderness 1-0, in the fifth and deciding game of the NAHL’s Midwest Division semi-finals. There was no scoring in the first period, but the Wild did have the better scoring chances and outshot Minnesota 10-8. Just like the first, there was no scoring in the second period, with both teams having solid scoring chances. Shots in the period were 16-10 in favor of the Wilderness. In the third period, both teams had tremendous chances but neither could dent the twine. Wenatchee outshot Minnesota in the third 17-12, to take a 37-36 shots advantage through 60 minutes. In the overtime, the two teams battled up and down the ice, both getting good opportunities to score. Then, late in the extra session, Mullan fired home a crossing pass from the right circle, sending the Wild on to the Midwest Division finals. The Wild outshot the Wilderness 54-48. Chase Perry made 48 saves for the Wild, Kasimir Kaskisuo had 53 saves for Minnesota. Boxscore
Kenai River Brown Bears 2 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs 3 (OT) (Fairbanks wins best of five series, 3-2) – Veteran forward Kyle Lee scored 4:44 into overtime to send the top-seeded Ice Dogs into the Midwest Division Finals with a 3-2 win over their in-state rivals. Fairbanks wins the best of five series, 3-2. The Brown Bears pinned the Ice Dogs in their end of the ice for the first 49 seconds of the contest. The pressure paid off in Frankie Spellman scoring at 1:26, as he faked a 2-on-1 pass to Conor Deal and lined a high shot past Kevin Aldridge’s stick side. Ice Dogs defenseman Wyatt Ege glided from the left point to the top of the slot to drill a low power-play shot between Zach Quinn’s pads. Duggie Lagrone got his first of back-to-back assists and Brett Gervais also helped on the goal. Late in the opening period, Lee and Lagrone set up Hans Gorowsky, who sent a desperation lob from the half-boards and the puck rang the crossbar and dropped behind Quinn’s stick side for a 2-1 lead. Spellman knotted the score at 2 at 6:27 of the second period with his second goal of the night. Spellman trailed a 2-on-2 transition and Alec Butcher dropped the puck to him in the slot to beat Aldridge with a wrist shot over the glove side. After a scoreless 3rd period, Lee scored the OT-winner after a scramble in front after a centering pass from Lonnie Clary. Boxscore
