Richfield, Minnesota | 1/8/22 | Isaac Smoldon
The Wolverines’ final game of their eight-game road trip ended with a loss to the Minnesota Magicians on Saturday night in Richfield. A three-goal period from the Magicians propelled them to a 5-3 victory over Anchorage in the two teams’ fourth game against each other this season. Trever Kukkonen was the stand out player for Minnesota, as he scored the game-winning goal in a contest where he picked up three points.
Anchorage started the scoring in the 1st period when Talon Sigurdson potted his 25th of the season 9:15 into regulation. The Wolverines’ lead would only last two minutes however, as Gavin Best tied the game at one, by slamming home a rebound past Shane Soderwall. Anchorage would regain the lead shortly after Best’s goal, and this time it would be Bohdan Panasenko scoring his fifth of the year to give the Wolverines a one-goal lead heading into the 2nd.
In the middle frame, Minnesota would take control of the game, outshooting the Wolverines’ 13-8, and scoring three unanswered goals. Robert Christy tied the game 1:02 into the period, picking up his fifth of the season. Two goals from Kukkonen at 7:37 and 9:54 gave the Magicians their first lead of the game, and Minnesota carried that lead into the 3rd.
Anchorage would be able to get the game back within one with an early goal from Danny Reis. However, following Reis’s goal, Minnesota goaltender Henry Levi would shut the door making 12 saves in a period where the Wolverines outshot the Magicians 13-4. An empty net goal from Daniil Dolzhenko with three seconds left was ultimately irrelevant to the outcome of the contest, but gave the Magicians a 5-3 victory.
Minnesota’s win makes the two teams’ record against each other 2-2 this season. It also marks the first time either team has beaten each other by more than one goal. Anchorage now has an extended break before their next game which is at home against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on January 21st. Game time is 7PM AKST with tickets available at the Ben Boeke doors 30 minutes prior to puck drop.
