Arizona Bobcats goaltender Aiden Biswanger stopped 41 shots Friday night, but it was not enough to stave off Thunder Bay, who skated to a 5-0 shutout victory. Photos by Drew Herron
Arizona has no answer to slow Thunder Bay as Kings roll to a 5-0 win over Bobcats
Gritty Thunder Bay squad hammers away and outshoots Arizona 46-4 for shutout victory
The Thunder Bay Kings dominated the nightcap Friday at Marinucci Arena in Minneapolis by taking an early lead, pouring on shots, and physical play to wear down the Arizona Bobcats in Tier 1 14 league action.
Owen Voortman scored on a wrist shot as he crossed the high slot less than five minutes in, and Thunder Bay played out front with confidence the rest of the way. Less than 10 minutes later, Voortman would help set up a power play goal by Casey Chevalier, followed by another goal a minute later by Evan Lachimea to drive the Kings out front.
Thunder Bay outshot Arizona 46-4 for the game, affording goaltender Nate Krawchuk a shutout without being too heavily tested.
At the other end, Aiden Biswanger tallied 41 saves in the loss as he toiled under heavy and near constant pressure from a team that dominated in both shots and zone time.
Second half goals for Thunder Bay came from Braydon Piccinin and Brady Butvin. - Drew Herron
Box Score: Thunder Bay vs. Arizona
Thunder Bay forward Casey Chevalier celebrates a power play goal with Owen Voortman late in the first half Friday night at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis.
First half scoring holds up in the second as Madison Capitols fend off Meijer, 3-2
The Madison Capitols scored thrice in the opening half, then withstood a scrappy comeback effort by Meijer to etch out a 3-2 victory Friday evening at Mariucci Arena.
Madison spread out the three scores over 10 minutes midway through the opening half, after breaking the ice on a goal by Jacob Barth less than six minutes into play. About 10 minutes later, the Capitols would add to their lead after converting on the power play. Charlie Murray buried a close-range shot with assists to Blake Bechen and Owen King as Madison worked to establish the upper hand early.
Meijer would answer a short time later when Carson Shafor found the back of the net following a scrum in front of the Capitols net, but Meijer would not get any closer as Madison responded with a goal of its own less than two minutes later when Wyatt Madvig scored, with an assist to Barth, who recorded his second point of the night.
A tense second half played out where competition was high and determination fueled both sides. Meijer would trim the deficit to one with a power play goal by Vincent Hart with 4:18 remaining, but Capitols never would surrender the equalizer.
Box Score: Madison Capitols vs. Meijer