Behind a great game by Drew Otto, who had one goal and two assists, the Granite City Lumberjacks defeated the Alexandria Blizzard, 8-3.
Otto scored on the power play 15:39 into the first period to make the score 2-1 Granite City. Granite City had taken the advantage when Alexandria\’s Tom Schmidt got sent off for checking from behind. Morgan Martelle provided the assist. Otto dished an assist on Mitchell Gwost\’s goal that made the score 3-3 at 11:05 into the second period. He added another helper on Gavin Porter\’s goal that made the score 8-3 Granite City at 9:40 into the third period.
The Lumberjacks stifled the Blizzard\’s power play, and did not give up a single goal while down a man. Alexandria was unable to stop Granite City from sending pucks towards the net, and the Lumberjacks eventually piled up 49 shots on goal. Granite City found the back of the net more times than it usually has this season. The Lumberjacks average 5.4 goals per game.
Granite City additionally got points from Taylor Brown, who also grabbed one goal and two assists, Gwost, who also had one goal and two assists, Brett Love, who also registered one goal and one assist, Zac Sikich, who also racked up one goal and one assist, and Christian Mohs, who also tallied one goal and one assist. Granite City also got a goal from Roy Grandov as well. In addition, Granite City received assists from Sam Zweiner, who had one and Aidan Verbeke, who had three.
The Blizzard were helped by Drake Hunter, who finished with one goal. Hunter scored 19:02 into the first period to make the score 3-2 Alexandria. Mick Dhein assisted on the tally. Alexandria also had goals scored by Bo Gronseth and Aaron Ryback, who each put in one. More assists for Alexandria came via Mitch Krafcheck and Aammir Freese, who each chipped in two.
Granite City\’s Scott Murray stopped 27 shots out of the 30 that he faced. The Lumberjacks incurred six minutes in penalty time with three minors. Tanner Elmore made 41 saves for Alexandria on 49 shots. The Blizzard incurred 20 minutes in penalty time with five minors.
