An overtime goal for the Minnesota Wilderness completed the three-game sweep of the Kenai River Brown Bears with the Wilderness recording a 2-1 victory on Friday on the Bears home ice at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Minnesota, outshot 36 to 20 by the Bears for the game, scored the game-winner just :51 seconds into the sudden-death overtime, Michael Quinn burying the first and only shot of the overtime.
The loss closes the first round pairing with Minnesota sweeping three games against Kenai River. The Wilderness advance to play the #1 seed Wisconsin Windigo for the Midwest Division championship. Wisconsin completed a three-game sweep of the Chippewa Steel on Friday night.
Kenai River Brown Bears 1 – Minnesota Wilderness 2
The Brown Bears controlled play throughout the first period; however, failed to light the lamp with 10 shots on goal; as Kenai River and Minnesota skated even at 0-0 through one period of playoff hockey. In the second period, Kenai River fired 21 shots on goal scoring their first goal of the game at 5:35 off the stick of Nick Stevens with assists to Hayden Walters and Luke Anderson. Minnesota answered with a goal at 10:21 to even the game at 1-1 to close the second period.
Both teams generated six shots in a scoreless third period leading to an overtime period.
In the overtime, Minnesota’s Michael Quinn scored the game-winner just :51 seconds into the overtime for a 2-1 Wilderness victory.
For the game, Kenai River goalie Nik Wallstrom recorded 19 saves on 21 shots; Wilderness goalie Isak Posch saved 35 of 36 shots.