Missoula Leaves Valencia Looking to Take on Boulder

After an unsuccessful trip to California, despite the very successful Outdoor Classic by which the Ducks swept the Kings 3-0, the Maulers have turned their sights to their on-coming series against the Boulder Bison. Fun fact you should know is that Christian Manning, previous Mauler from earlier this season, was traded down to Boulder in exchange for a roster spot for a higher scorer. This should be his first return since then and should be an interesting turn out. Niko Pukkila was also traded down to the Cheyenne Stampede in return for the same thing. I think that since this will be their first series against the Bison and vice versa, the Maulers will need to know some things about Boulder before they hit the ice with them. The Bison are a tough team seeing that have to fight hard to hold their own in the Mountain Division. They are currently sitting in 4th place with 32 points while Missoula is in 4th place as well with 27 points. Hopefully the Missoula boys can get back on their feet after traveling around quite often and pick up some home-ice wins. These boys are fighters and right now we need them to fight back harder than they have in the past. It is almost crunch time for the playoffs and if they want to find themselves in a post-season spot, they better start taking these games seriously and start devising a plan that will work for all of them whether that be switching up lines, training the tendys harder, or extra ice time. The playoffs are slowly approaching and it is time to get ready for some of the hardest games they have faced because everyone is going into crunch mode.

The Flyers started the scoring game off at 13:57 in the first with a goal from #15 Wil Barnett and assists for #21 Wade Wylie and #16 Blake Aguilar.

Valencia went up 2-0 when #5 Niklas Giers scored on Janzen on a power play at 6:49 with an apple for #14 Austin Ehrlich and Blake Aguilar. It was 3-0 when frequent scorer Jakob Kranabetter shot one into the back of the net at 12:50. There were assists for Austin Erhlich and Zach Paxman. Max Rebholz put the Maulers on the board at 19:29 in the second period on a power play with help from Erich Jaeger.

Zach Paxman was able to push it 4-1 with a goal at 1:14. Assists were given to #28 Chase Thesman and #7 Sam Taferner. Joey Sundgren cut the lead in half when he found the back of the net on a power play at 3:58. An apple was given to Austin Azzinnaro. Niklas Giers scored on a power play once again to make it 5-2 and give points not only to himself but for Austin Ehrlich as well. Blake Aguilar made it 6-2 with his own goal at 12:39. An assist was given to #13 Adam Papayoanou. The last goal of the game was scored by Auzzie at 18:47 with an assist for Craig Buford.

Make sure not to miss out on the Boulder Bison series on Feburary 7th, 8th, and 9th all at 7:30 pm MST at the Glacier Ice Rink!

The boys during warm ups

Statistics:

PENALTIES:

Period 1:

Missoula Maulers - Joey Porco (Checking from Behind) 2 Minutes, 1:10

Missoula Maulers - Joey Porco (Checking from Behind)(Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 1:10

Valencia Flyers - Zach Paxman (Kneeing) 2 Minutes, 1:47

Missoula Maulers - Tanner Todd (Head Contact) 2 Minutes, 2:24

Valencia Flyers - Jakob Kranabetter (High Sticking) 2 Minutes, 18:50

Missoula Maulers - Erich Jaeger (Charging) 2 Minutes, 19:50

Period 2:

Valencia Flyers - Zach Paxman (Interference) 2 Minutes, 1:20

Missoula Maulers - Jordan Wheatly (Interference) 2 Minutes, 4:52

Missoula Maulers - Henrik Ekestahl (Tripping) 2 Minutes, 6:23

Missoula Maulers - Tanner Todd (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 7:54

Valencia Flyers - Travis Wilson (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 7:54

Missoula Maulers - Corey Schafer (Delay of Game) 2 Minutes, 13:40

Valencia Flyers - Dillon Thomas (Delay of Game) 2 Minutes, 13:40

Valencia Flyers - Dillon Thomas (Interference) 2 Minutes, 17:31

Period 3:

Missoula Maulers - Corey Schafer (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 3:50

Valencia Flyers - Dillon Thomas (Fighting) (Instigator) 2 Minutes, 3:50

Valencia Flyers - Dillon Thomas (Fighting (Major) 5 Minutes, 3:50

Valencia Flyers - Dillon Thomas (Fighting) (Game Ejection) 10 Minutes, 3:58

Missoula Maulers - Henrik Ekestahl (Interference) 2 Minutes, 6:33

Valencia Flyers - Zach Paxman (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 7:31

Missoula Maulers - Cody Janzen (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 7:31

Valencia Flyers - Wil Barnett (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 8:36

Missoula Maulers - Erich Jaeger (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 2 Minutes, 9:42

Missoula Maulers - Corey Schafer (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 14:07

Missoula Maulers - Corey Schafer (Fighting) (Game Ejection) 10 Minutes, 14:07

Valencia Flyers - Chase Thesman (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 14:07

SHOTS ON GOAL:

Missoula Maulers - 26 total

Valencia Flyers - 40 total

POWER PLAYS:

Missoula Maulers - 2 for 5

Valencia Flyers - 2 for 8

GOALTENDERS:

#31 Cody Janzen for Missoula Maulers: 60 Minutes played, 40 shots on goal 34 saved

#30 Luke Thompson for Valencia Flyers: 60 Minutes played, 26 shots on goal 23 saved