Knights face another loss 6-3

The Missoula Maulers are on a hot 6 game winning streak thanks to a great combination of fabulous goaltending, forwards who are constantly breaking up opposing plays and rushing the puck, and defenseman who are keeping their zone clean of any potential goals. I am glad to see that the boys have finally got their game in sync to what needs to happen and how they are playing. Watching the game last night at the Glacier Ice Rink, some of the players that I thought stood out the best were phenomenal goaltender Sebastian Gronborg, great scorer Erich Jaeger, fantastic Swedish defenseman Henrik Ekestahl, and  the ever faithful chirper and skilled forward Corey Schafer. All of these players stood out for their own special reasons. Erich Jaeger was fantastic at getting the points on the board as always, Corey Schafer kept off most of the Knights' aggressive players from his much needed star players by just creating a giant chirp fest the entire game, Henrik played great defense and was awesome at keeping the puck in Phoenix's zone, and this was Sebastian's 4th straight win which speaks for itself, in my opinion if he is still playing hot like this keep him in even longer! I am glad someone took my advice to heart and started putting out the necessary players to get these wins. I mean of course the boys are doing all of this on their own, they just needed a little push start that is all! Congratulations on your 6 game streak and keep playing like this boys! Next thing you know, you could be in the 3rd or 4th spot competing for the playoffs! What I personally don't understand is why the coaching staff wanted to pull Sebastian during the late third period I believe. I mean that basically counts as an empty net goal for the other team since it creates such an easy scoring possibility. I have noticed that they do that very often and I can understand why you would want to do that if there was a 1 point difference from a win but when you have a 2-3 point lead why?

Phoenix struck first blood at 3:47 in the first period when assistant captain #10 Max Mahood beat Gronborg with the help of the other assistant #22 Jordan Cullum. At 13:07, Joey Sundgren scored on Alex Taylor to tie things 1-1 with the help of Anders Nord and Corey Schafer on a power play.

The second period was dominated by Missoula. Max Rebholz scored an unassisted goal at 3:36 and Erich Jaeger scored the next one at 5:35 when his biscuit went in with the help of Josh Chamberlain and Max Rebholz. This brought the score up 3-1 at the end of the second.

A flurry of goals were scored in the very tedious third period. Anders Nord started off the bid at 4:26 with an unassisted goal. Phoenix fought back when #25 David Hornak found the back of the Missoula net at 7:38 with the help of #6 Tanner Branch and #9 Jordan Kaspick. Nord then beat Taylor again at 13:27 on another power play when Henrik Ekestahl was given an apple. The Knights struck again when #15 Braden Cooper put the biscuit in the basket and apples were given to #11 Robert Smith and #12 Brayden Cullum at 18:06. Erich Jaeger scored the last unassisted goal at 19:28

The last game of the series is on the 4th at 7:30 pm at the Glacier Ice Rink so don't miss it!

The boys during warm ups at the GIR

Statistics:

PENALTIES:

Period 1:

Phoenix Knights - Shane Fitzpatrick (Interference) 2 Minutes, 12:18

Phoenix Knights - Braden Cooper (Interference) 2 Minutes, 16:05

Missoula Maulers - Corey Schafer (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 19:22

Period 2: 

Phoenix Knights - Shane Fitzpatrick (Interference) 2 Minutes, 2:15

Missoula Maulers - Craig Buford (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 5:02

Phoenix Knights - Jordan Cullum (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 5:02

Phoenix Knights - Charlie Allen (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 5:02

Phoenix Knights - Brynton Macnab (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 7:56

Missoula Maulers - Tanner Todd (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 7:56

Phoenix Knights - Kelby Minshull (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 12:27

Missoula Maulers - Anders Nord (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 12:27

Phoenix Knights - Jordan Kaspick (Interference) 2 Minutes, 18:41

Phoenix Knights - David Hornak (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 18:41

Missoula Maulers - Joey Porco (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 18:41

Period 3: 

Phoenix Knights - Josh Smith (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 4:17

Missoula Maulers - Craig Buford (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 4:17

Phoenix Knights - Kelby Minshull (Cross-Checking) 2 Minutes, 12:11

Phoenix Knights - Nick Kujawa (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 13:27

Phoenix Knights - Nick Kujawa (Unsportsmnalike Conduct) (Game Ejection) 10 Minutes, 13:27

Missoula Maulers - Billy Bigham (Interference) 2 Minutes, 13:35

Phoenix Knights - Brennan Johnsson (Boarding) (Major) 5 Minutes, 20:00

Phoenix Knights - Alex Taylor (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 20:00

Phoenix Knights - Shane Fitzpatrick (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 20:00

SHOTS ON GOAL:

Missoula Maulers - 47 total

Phoenix Knights - 46 total

POWER PLAYS:

Missoula Maulers - 3 for 5

Phoenix Knights - 0 for 2

GOALTENDERS:

#1 Sebastian Gronborg for Missoula Maulers: 60 Minutes played, 46 shots on goal 43 saves

#30 Alex Taylor for Phoenix Knights: 60 Minutes played, 47 shots on goal 41 saves