Alexandria closed out the year hosting Mason City for two with a chance to pull within one game in the loss column of the Toros with 4 games in hand, but came up just short losing a pair of one goal games and capturing one point from the series.
Thursday night Mason City 4-3 OT
The Blizzard jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Matt McIntyre pounced on a Cole Klingbeil rebound for his 10th of the year. Ben Tschida also assisted on the goal. After Mason City tied the game early in the second the Blizzard built a 3-1 lead on goals from Tschida and Zach DeMarce midway through the 2nd period. But then Mason City swung the momentum with two goals to close out the period, and after a tense scoreless 3rd period, the Toros scored on a centering pass that caromed off a Blizzard player in overtime for the 4-3 win and the extra point.
Friday night Mason City 4-3
This game followed a similar script as the Blizzard took a 1-0 lead with 5 minutes left in the 2nd when Ethan Moerke ripped a wrist shot top shelf from just inside the circles. Brady Goff assisted on Moerke’s 5th of the season. Mason City came right back to tie it at 1-1 but then the Blizzard scored twice in the final four minutes of the 2nd period to build a 3-1 lead heading into the 3rd. Matt McIntyre skated in alone on the right side and beat Chaffe for his 11th of the year, then a couple minute later Kaden Peterson scored a power play goal off assists from McIntyre and Sean Kenny. The 3rd period was a different story though as the Toros found their scoring touch with 3 goals, while the Blizzard lost theirs despite outshooting Mason City 19-10. Mason City held on for the 4-3 win.
Alexandria (14-12-1 – 29 pts) remain in 4th place in the West six points behind Willmar. The Minnesota Loons come to town Saturday January 8th at 7:10 pm. Click on the tickets tab for tickets and catch all the games on hockeytv.com