Kenai 4, Palmer 3
In what may have been one of the best games of the 2023-24 hockey season, the Kenai Kardinals hung on at home to beat the Palmer Moose in Kenai 4-3 on Thursday night.
Several Kardinals turned in great performances, but goaltender Seanna Swanson stole the show. Swanson shut down a potent Palmer offense, holding the Moose scoreless for nearly the final 20 minutes of the game, notching 14 saves in the third period.
Kenai’s first line looked as dangerous as ever, accounting for three of four goals scored on the night, and six of eight assists.
Palmer jumped out to an early lead when defenseman Zidane Dietz scored 2:24 into the first period. Kenai didn’t stay behind for long, however, and drew equal with the Moose a few minutes later on Avery Martin’s goal at 6:30. Then, with a minute remaining in the first, Kenai took their first lead of the night when Martin scored for the second time in the period. 2-1 Kenai heading into the second.
Penalties stacked up in the second period, especially for Palmer, and both teams found the scoreboard again, but Palmer flipped the script and ended the period level with the Kardinals. The Moose scored twice in the frame, both goals (1:11 and 6:46) by Kinan Grecco, the second a shorthanded goal during a Kenai power play. Kenai scored its lone goal of the second period at 3:44 to briefly retake the lead when Everett Chamberlain put a Mason Vermette rebound in the net.
The showdown concluded in fantastic style, with high tension throughout the third period. Swanson looked unbeatable, stopping all 14 shots she faced. Logan Mese netted the Kardinal’s game-winner at 10:11. Swanson wrapped up the remaining five minutes of the period by holding the Moose scoreless despite a late Kenai tripping penalty which led to a frenetic final 90 seconds of 6 on 4, two-man advantage for Palmer.
With the win, Kenai improves to 6-1 in conference play, leap-frogging Palmer for first place in the Northern Lights Conference. They also improve to 10-7-1 overall on the season.
Goals: (KEN) Martin 2, Chamberlain, Mese; (PAL) Grecco 2, Dietz
Assists: (KEN) Mese 2, Howard, Vann, Vermette, Liles, Martin, Tree; (PAL) Heard 2, Horacek, Grecco, Nelius,
Saves: (KEN) Swanson 27/30; (PAL) O’Bryan 21/25
