Game two in Arizona winds up in Overtime

The second day in Phoenix brought a game full of suspense and aggression. Players from both teams were eager to get back out on the ice and play through some amazing shifts. Coming out of last night's game, the Maulers were prepared for anything and definitely ready to attack. Veteran tendy Cody Janzen was released from the Injured Reserve list after suffering a pretty nasty concussion received in the preseason and was placed in the cage. Missoula's captain Anders Nord found the back of the net 12:50 in the first period on the power play and started the game off on the right foot for the team. He had assists from Austin Auzzinnaro and Nikita Sheptytskyy.

Getting back on the ice for the second period, Sheptytskyy beat goaltender David Deadman for his 3rd goal of the season at 6:48. Nikita was assisted by forward Tanner Todd. Seeing that they were under from 2 unanswered goals,  assistant captain for the Knights, Max Mahood lit the lamp 1 minute and 29 seconds later with an apple for #11 forward Robert Smith. Being the huge offensive force that he is, Nikita ripped the biscuit into the back of the net at 18:29 once again to lift the Maulers up by 2 points and end the scoring for the second period.

Down by two, the Knights switched goaltenders and retaliated by scoring two goals of their own in the third period. Forward #9 Jordan Kaspick racked up a point 15 minutes and 7 seconds into the period with assists from Robert Crisci and Colin Bresnehan. Following Kaspick, Slovakian forward David Hornak scored 37 seconds later with help from Tanner Branch and Kelly Minshull. This was the last goal in regulation.

Up next was overtime. 4 minutes and 52 seconds into the OT, Jordan Collum ended the game with a goal assisted by Tanner Branch and Kelly Minshull. Tension was high out there on the ice tonight and The Maulers coped very well with it. I can't wait to see what the squad brings next. They fought as one and it definitely showed. There was a certain flow between the players that produced great plays, strong shifts, and high morale. Game #3 will be awesome to watch because tension as well as aggression levels have risen exponentially so we could see some mitts dropped. Hopefully we will get to see beast goaltender Sebastian Gronborg in the net tomorrow night as well. Good luck boys!

OT ladies and gentlemen!

Statistics:

PENALTIES:

  Period 1:

Missoula Maulers - Niko Pukkila (Tripping) 2 Minutes, 6:50

Phoenix Knights - Brennan Johnsson (Hooking) 2 Minutes, 11:15

 Period 2:

Missoula Maulers - Erik Hartzell (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 3:37

Phoenix Knights - Ryan McNeely (Tripping) 2 Minutes, 11:21

Missoula Maulers - Erich Jaeger (Cross Checking) 2 Minutes, 12:17

Missoula Maulers - Austin Auzzinnaro (Holding) 2 Minutes, 18:36

Phoenix Knights - Jordan Cullum (Cross Checking) 2 Minutes, 18:36

 Period 3:

Phoenix Knights - Tanner Branch (Boarding) 2 Minutes, 3:30

Phoenix Knights - Tanner Branch (Boarding) (Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 5:30

Missoula Maulers - Craig Buford (Holding) 2 Minutes, 8:56

Phoenix Knights - Tanner Branch (Hooking) 2 Minutes, 16:27

 OT:
No Penalties given

SHOTS ON GOAL:

Missoula Maulers - 22 total

Phoenix Knights - 47 total

POWERPLAYS:

Missoula Maulers - 1 for 5

Phoenix Knights - 0 for 3

GOALTENDERS:

#31 Cody Janzen for Missoula Maulers: 64:52 minutes played, 47 shots on goal 43 saves

#35 David Deadman for Phoenix Knights: 38:29 minutes played, 13 shots on goal 10 saves

#30 Alex Taylor for Phoenix Knights: 26:23 minutes played, 9 shots on goal 9 saves