Blizzard hold off Chill for weekend split
The Alexandria Blizzard almost saw its 3-0 lead erased by the Coulee Region Chill on Saturday in La Crosse, WI.
After falling 3-2 overtime on Friday night, the Blizzard’s fast start propelled them to a 4-3 win.
Dylan Carlson started the scoring with assists from Brandon Connett and Michal Trejbal midway through the first period. Connett made it a 2-0 game with under three minutes before the intermission.
Cole Jacobs found the back of the net early in the second period with assists from Carlson and Carter Rieland. It looked as if the Blizzard were going to run away with things before the Chill answered.
Marco Escobar cut Alexandria’s lead to two before Christopher Gilbert made it a one-goal game midway through the second.
With 47 seconds left in the period, Kobe Kitagawa scored what would be the game-winning goal. Connett had this third point of the game with an assist.
The Chill found some life late in the third with Escobar’s third goal, but could not get a fourth as the Blizzard took home a weekend split.
Ville Hyttinen had 27 saves in net. He continues to have a good season with a 4-3-0-1 record, a 3.12 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.
With his three-point night, Connett leads the Blizzard with 27 points in 16 games played. He is the only member of the Blizzard with more than seven goals at 14. Caleb Strong and Dallas Duckson both have 21 points on the year.
The Blizzard sit in third place in the West Division standings with 19 points (8-5-2-1). The Chill is in second place in the Central Division with 24 points. (12-6-0-0).
Alexandria is back at home for the first time in seven games this weekend. The take on the Breezy Point North Stars (3-15-1-0) on Friday and the Willmar Warhawks (8-7-1-1) on Saturday.
ALEXANDRIA 2 2 0 – 4
COULEE REGION 0 2 1 – 3 (SATURDAY)
SCORING- FIRST PERIOD- Alexandria- Dylan Carlson (Brandon Connett, Michal Trejbal) 7:43; Alexandria- Connett (Trejbal) power play, 17:42; SECOND PERIOD- Cole Jacobs (Carlson, Carter Rieland) 3:30; Coulee Region- Marco Escobar (Liam Farrell, Gijs De Schepper) short handed, 12:09; Christopher Gilbert (Joey Wiczek) 17:01; Alexandria- Kobe Kitagawa (Connett, Val Popowski) 19:31; Coulee Region- Escobar (Jacob Best, Sam VanderHoven) 17:12;
PENALTIES- Alexandria- 22 minutes on 7 infractions; Coulee Region- 10 minutes on 5 infractions;
GOALTENDING- Alexandria- Ville Hyttinen, W, 27 saves, 3 goals allowed; Coulee Region- Devin Naidow, L 32 saves, 4 goals allowed;
ALEXANDRIA 2 0 0 – 0 – 2 (FRIDAY)
COULEE REGION 2 0 0 – 1 – 3
SCORING- FIRST PERIOD- Alexandria- Trejbal (unassisted) 2:11; Coulee Region- Escobar (De Schepper) 4:40; Coulee Region- Flavien Fondadouse (Parker Severson, Escobar) power play, 10:43; Alexandria- Carlson (Rieland, Jacobs) 12:53; OVERTIME- Coulee Region- Best (Severson, Fondadouze) power play, 3:43;
PENALTIES- Alexandria- 6 minutes on 3 infractions; Coulee Region- 4 minutes on 2 infractions;
GOALTENDING- Alexandria- Hyttinen, OTL, 31 saves, 3 goals allowed; Coulee Region- Michael Janke, W, 29 saves, 2 goals allowed