Four, one-goal games highlight dramatic Day 2 at Fraser Cup

March 28, 2018

On Day 2 of the Fraser Cup, it was an one-goal thrill ride as all four games were decided by a goal, including two in overtime, setting up a dramatic final day of round-robin competition on Thursday.

 

 

Watch all the games live on HockeyTV

 

Important note: Per the NA3HL rules and regulations, points for all round-robin games at the Fraser Cup shall be awarded as follows:

a. 3 points for the winning team at the conclusion of regulation time.

b. 1 point for both teams at the conclusion of regulation time if the game is tied.

c. An additional point earned for the team winning the game in a 10-minute overtime period, or the shootout if the teams are still tied following conclusion of the overtime period.

d. 0 points for the team losing the game in regulation time.

 

 

With that said, here is what is known as we break it down by pool.

 

Granite City is in the driver’s seat, but because they only took home two points in the OT win against St. Louis on Day 2, they still have not clinched a spot in the Semi-Finals. The Lumberjacks would clinch a spot in the Semi-Finals with any type of win or an OT/shootout loss against Yellowstone. St. Louis, who is in 2nd place with four points, clinches a spot in the Semi-Finals with any kind of win or a Yellowstone loss. Yellowstone has a little tougher road, but they do know if they win in regulation, they are in the Semi-Finals. If Yellowstone wins in OT or a shootout, they would need St. Louis to lose in regulatin. Any type of Yellowstone loss would eliminate them. The only team unable to make the Semi-Finals is Binghamton at 0-2.

 

The Metro Jets know they have clinched a spot in Friday’s Semi-Finals. A win or OT/shootout loss on Thursday against Texas will secure them the top spot in Pool B. A win of any kind against Metro on Thursday will send the Texas Brahmas into the Semi-Finals. If the Brahmas lose they will then have to hope for a La Crosse loss. La Crosse can get into the Semi-Finals with a regulation win and Texas has a loss of any kind. If La Crosse wins in OT/shootout then they would have to hope for a Texas loss in regulation. The only team unable to make the Semi-Finals is New England at 0-2.

 

 

#8 Granite City Lumberjacks 3 vs. #4 St. Louis Jr. Blues 2 (OT) (watch highlights) – In a match-up of 1-0 teams, the hype lived up to the action as the Lumberjacks moved to 2-0 in the event with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the Jr. Blues. With the OT win, Granite City now has five points, while with the overtime loss, the Jr. Blues have four. The Lumberjacks struck first with the only goal of the 1st period as Brandon Bissett lit the lamp. The Jr. Blues turned things around in the 2nd period with a pair of power play goals from Ivan Galaguzov and Cameron McAtee to take a 2-1 lead into the 3rd period. With less than three minutes remaining in regulation, Cole Buhl scored for the Lumberjacks and tie the game at 2-2 to send things to overtime. In the overtime, Chase DiBari completed an end-to-end rush and fired a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Jr. Blues goalie Blake Bjella, which popped the water bottle for the OT-winner and extra point. Both goalies made some highlight reel saves with Lumberjacks goalie David Mulligan making 31 saves in the win, while Bjella made 25 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 

#5 Yellowstone Quake 4 vs. #1 Binghamton Junior Senators 3 (watch highlights) – The Yellowstone Quake kept their Semi-Final hopes alive with a close 4-3 win over the Binghamton Junior Senators in Game 2 for each team at the Fraser Cup. It was the second straight one-goal loss for the #1-seeded Junior Senators, who saw their Semi-Finals dreams dashed with the loss. The Quake never trailed in the game, as they scored first with a 1st period goal from Riley Buller. Binghamton had an answer early in the 2nd period on a goal from Ryan Flanagan, but the Quake would regain and add to their lead as goals later in the 2nd period from Ethan Sievek and Jake Ford put the Quake up 3-1 after two periods. In the 3rd period, the Junior Senators fought back again to tie the game with two straight goals as Ben Beversdorf and Michael Padgeon scored, but the Quake would respond with just over five minutes remaining in regulation with a power play goal from Ian Doner, which would stand as the game-winner. Quake goaltender Reid Waszczenko made 35 saves in the win, while Binghamton goalie Brady Anderson made 26 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 

#2 Metro Jets 2 vs. #6 New England Stars 1 (watch highlights) – A 42-15 shots advantage helped the Metro Jets wear down the New England Stars, ultimately resulting in a 2-1 win on Day 2 of the Fraser Cup. The win moved the Jets record to 2-0 with six points as they sit atop of Pool B and have clinched a spot in the Semi-Finals. The loss kept the Stars winless in Pool play and eliminated from making the Semi-Finals. All the scoring in the game came in the 2nd period. Metro’s Kyle Gierman started the scoring with a power play goal just 1:30 into the middle frame. New England had a response seven minutes later as Ryan Gauvin scored to make it 1-1. Late in the period, the eventual game-winner came off the stick of Reggie Millette, who had a goal and assist on the night. New England Stars goalie Andrew Ghimpeteanu was very good in the loss, keeping things a one-goal game until the very end with 40 saves on the night. Metro goalie Brian Tallieu made 14 saves in the win. Boxscore

 

#7 La Crosse Freeze 3 vs. #3 Texas Brahmas 2 (OT) (watch highlights) – In the second overtime game of the day, the La Crosse Freeze kept their Fraser Cup hopes alive with a 3-2 overtime win over the Texas Brahmas. La Crosse jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a 1st period goal from Clayton Lackey and a 2nd period goal from Jacob Garman. Texas did not back down and fought back with a big spirit as they made the score 2-1 with a goal later in the 2nd period from Kyle Cote and a goal early in the 3rd period from Jarrod Croswell to make the score 2-2. In the overtime, Lackey stepped up to the plate again with his second goal of the night, as he roofed a shot in close just :31 seconds into the extra frame to give La Crosse the win and two points. The overtime loss earned the Brahmas a point as they sit in 2nd place in the Pool. Freeze goalie William Graves made 26 saves in the win, while Texas goalie Tyler Myers made 23 saves in the loss. Boxscore