Alexandria 2 @ Granite City 3 (OT): The Granite City Lumberjacks used a resilient performance and clutch scoring to defeat the Alexandria Blizzard 3-2 in West Division action. After Alexandria earned the win in game 1, Granite City was quick to answer with a win in game 2 setting up for a winner take all game 3. Alexandria struck first on the scoreboard with Ethan Boughton finishing a play set up by Grady Stallman and Wyatt Mineheine, giving the Blizzard a 1–0 lead heading into the first intermission. The second period saw both teams trade goals. Kaden Roness restored Alexandria’s lead at 2–0 with assists from Blake Breiland and Maxim Lazo. Granite City answered on the power play as Micah Saxon scored off assists from Baylor Stebbins and Ty Smith, cutting the Blizzard’s lead to 2–1. Alexandria maintained the lead into the third period, but Granite City kept fighting. Ty Smith tied the game with just 17 seconds remaining while the Lumberjacks had the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, sending the game into overtime. In overtime, Prentiss Maier netted the game-winner for Granite City, assisted by Garrett Plaude and Coltin Wassengeso, completing a dramatic comeback and securing the West Division Title. In net, Nathan Mach earned the win for Granite City with 26 saves on 28 shots, while Bode Ekblad made 51 saves on 54 shots for Alexandria despite the loss. The victory earns Granite City the West Division crown and a trip to St. Louis for the Fraser Cup, while Alexandria’s effort falls just short despite a stellar performance from Ekblad in net and the rest of the team during the hard fought playoff series.
