CLOQUET, Minn. – Tim Faulkner scored with 9:29 remaining in overtime as the Brookings Blizzard beat the Minnesota Magicians 4-3 Saturday night at Northwood Credit Union Arena to pull even at 1-1 in an NAHL Central Division Semifinal series.
The best-of-five series moves to Brookings on Friday and Saturday for Games 3 and 4. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. both nights.
Faulkner also had two assists to go with the game-winning goal, which was assisted by Paul Cotter and Doug Larson
The Wilderness found the scoreboard first as Luke Dow scored a short-handed goal on assists from Pavel Mikhasenok and Eric Gotz with 10:13 to go in the opening period.
The teams combined for five second-period goals.
Brandon Kruse pulled the Blizzard even just 39 seconds into the period. Nicholas Cardelli and Parker Revering were credited with assists.
Derek Hammer lit the lamp 59 seconds later – Roman Ahcan and Faulkner assisted – to make it 2-1.
Minnesota’s Tristan Rostagno found the back of the net with 15:33 showing on the clock. Ashton Altmann and Nick Altmann assisted. The Wilderness took their final lead – 3-2 – after Tim Nicksic scored on assists from Zach Mills and Louis Roehl a minute later.
Cade Borchardt’s goal with 7:24 left knotted the score at 3-all. Connor Kovia and Faulkner were credited with assists.
Neither team scored in the third period.
Jake Begley made 37 saves to earn the win in goal. Minnesota’s Luke Kania stopped 28 shots and allowed just one goal in 36:52 of game time but took the loss. Trevor Micucci, the starter, made 17 saves but surrendered three goals in 32:36 of action.
Notes: The Blizzard (0-for-6) and Wilderness (0-for-3) combined to go 0-for-9 on the power play. … Brookings held a 49-40 advantage in shots. …Overtime periods are 20 minutes in the playoffs.
BROOKINGS 4, MINNESOTA WILDERNESS 3 (OT)
Brookings 0 3 0 1 – 4
Minnesota 1 2 0 0 – 3
First Period
1, Minnesota, Luke Dow (Pavel Mikhasenok, Eric Gotz), 10:13 (sh). Penalties – Ashton Altmann, M (boarding), 11:31; Alexander Esbjors, M (hooking), 1:48.
Second Period
2, Brookings, Brandon Kruse (Nicholas Cardelli, Parker Revering), 19:21. 3, Brookings, Derek Hammer (Roman Ahcan, Tim Faulkner), 18:22. 4, Minnesota, Tristan Rostagno (Ashton Altmann, Nick Altmann), 15:33. 5, Minnesota, Tim Nicksic (Zach Mills, Louis Roehl), 14:33. 6, Brookings, Cade Borchardt (Connor Koviak, Tim Faulkner), 7:24. Penalties – John Siebenaler, B (hooking), 18:11; Roman Ahcan, B (tripping), 13:07; Zach Mills, M (slashing), 12:21; Jesse Farabee, M (hooking), 9:31; Christian Canavati, B (hooking), 2:59.
Third Period
No scoring. Penalties – Alexander Esbjors, M (interference), 11:31; Louis Roehl, M (head contact), :41.
Overtime
7, Brookings, Tim Faulkner (Paul Cotter, Doug Larson), 9:29. Penalties – none.
Shots on goal: Brookings 12-12-16-9—49; Minnesota 7-15-11-7—40. Power-play opportunities: Brookings 0-of-6; Minnesota 0-of-3. Goalies: Brookings, Jake Begley (40 shots-37 saves); Minnesota, Trevor Micucci (20-17), Luke Kania (7:24 second, 29-28). A – 1,119.
