It was a strange game between the Springfield Jr. Blues and Kenai River Brown Bears last night in Springfield, but ultimately the Blues came away with an important two points.
The Blues got goals from Luke Radetic and Brady Tomlak in the first five minutes to stake out a 2-0 lead. The Brown Bears responded with a goal in the first from Gunnar Goodmanson, followed by a mid-second period goal by Billy Nichol.
Following a shot that went just wide of the net, Brennan Blaszczak jammed the puck into an open net on a goalmouth scramble to make it 3-2. The Brown Bears tied it with 9 seconds left in the second on a goal from Jordan Hank.
The Blues scored three times in the third period, including a 5-0n-3 power play goal from Sam Craggs after a too-many-men call on Kenai River. Dylan Naumovski scored a shorthanded goal on a turnover at the Blues’ blue line, but Trevor Stone finally gave the Blues a two-goal lead that stuck late in the third.
The Jr. Blues went winless in their first five games when tied after two periods, but since then, have won two straight, including last Saturday’s win against Coulee Region, and now last night’s game.
The Blues peppered Kenai goalie Nicholas Nast with 56 shots, and he played well, even though he gave up six goals. Tommy Nappier stopped 21 shots for the Blues.
The puck drops from the Nelson Center for tonight’s second game against the Brown Bears on FastHockey at 7:05. We jump in with pregame about 10 minutes prior.
Audio highlights of last night’s game:
https://soundcloud.com/jim-mccabe-921580996/kenai-river-at-springfield-2-5-2016