A BIRTHDAY SWEEP BY THE BLIZZARD OVER MOOSE & WILDERNESS
The Blizzard froze the offense of the Minnesota Moose Friday night at Fogerty Arena with a scoreless game till the midway point of the 2nd period. Grady Stallman put the Blizzard up 1-0 on a play from Breiland and Crutcher at the 8:29 mark. Either side was able to produce any offense until the Moose pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and Zach Benson netted the first of two empty net goals. Benson’s came from a Waller and Boughton pass with Blake Breiland netting the 2nd empty net goal from Schmit for the 3-0 victory Friday night in Blaine. Serene earned the shutout stopping all 29 Moose shots.
Back at the RCC on Saturday (Head Coach Jeff Crouse’s Birthday), Maxim Lazo got the Blizzard on the board early at the 18:33 mark on a play from Boughton and Waller. The Wilderness answered back with two goals taking a 2-1 lead late into the opening period before Zach Benson netted the tying goal at the 2:25 mark from Vos and Roness. The Blizzard took the lead halfway through the middle period with a short handed goal from Hubmer and added a power play goal just over a minute later with Maxim Lazo netting his second of the night from Breiland and Roness. The Wilderness finally answered back with a goal at the 1:33 mark of the 2nd with the Blizzard responding less than a minute later with a Christian Crutcher goal coming from Roness and Boughton making it 5-3 Blizzard after 2. Coming at the 12:46 mark of the 3rd period, Blake Breiland gave the Blizzard a 3 goal lead from Lazo and Waller with the Wilderness answering with 2 quick goals from Wyatt Mineheine making it a one goal game late in the 3rd. With less than 2 minutes to play, Maxim Lazo netted his 3rd of the game earning his hat trick and Caden Vos sealed the game with a goal in the final minute giving the Blizzard an 8-5 victory and weekend sweep. Bode Ekblad stopped 40 of 45 on the victory.
Blizzard are on the road next weekend facing Willmar Friday night and the Moose Saturday.
Saturday was Head Coach Jeff Crouse’s Birthday!
