Despite outshooting the Grizzlies 35 to 33, the Alexandria Blizzard fell 0-8 Friday night in Rochester. The Grizzlies opened the scoring at the 2:09 mark of the 1st period and managed to net 3 more goals taking a 4-0 lead into the locker room off a power play goal and short handed goal. The Blizzard tightened play in the middle period but were unable to get one past Tate Cothern with the Grizzlies adding two more even strength goals in the 2nd period followed by two additional power play goals in the 3rd.
Back at the RCC for the end of the home and home series, the Blizzard struck first with a Bazl Cook goal a the 12:03 mark of 1st period on a play from Ashton Collings and Calab Waller. With the Blizzard down a man, the Grizzlies capitalized on the power play and tied the game on a Johannes goal at the 15:40 mark and the teams went to the locker room tied at 1. The second period was a hard fought battle from both sides as the physicality increased but the end result was 20 minutes of scoreless hockey with the game coming down to the final 20 minutes. With the man advantage to start the 3rd period, the Grizzlies took a 2-1 lead 27 seconds in and added another PP goal at the 12:59 mark making it 3-1 Grizzlies. Using his speed once again, Tyler Kludt brought the Blizzard within 1 with a short handed goal coming at the 16:47 mark from Cook and Becker bringing the energy back to the RCC which was already very vocal. With LaCosse pulled for the extra skater, the Blizzard were unable to get set up and the Grizzlies added 2 empty net goals for the 5-2 win and weekend sweep. The Blizzard went 0/11 on the man advantage and were outshot 77 to 69 on the weekend.
The Blizzard remain at home for a midweek Wednesday game facing the Willmar WarHawks at 7:10 for College Night presented by McDonalds. Grab your tickets at tickets.alexandriablizzard.com