Anchorage, Alaska | 11/20/21 | Isaac Smoldon
The Wolverines would put up a determined effort against the Ice Dogs, and came away with a series split following a 4-2 victory Saturday night. Anchorage was helped by even-strength goals from Joey Moffatt, Bohdan Panasenko, and Talon Sigurdson, and were backstopped by another impressive performance from goaltender Raythan Robbins.
For the second night in a row, Anchorage would get the first goal of the game. Moffatt potted his fifth of the year off a pass from Colton Friesen to make it . Robbins would protect the one goal lead all the way up to the final three seconds of the frame, but a spectacular behind-the-back pass from Owen Neuharth gave Brendan Miles an easy backdoor tap in to tie the game heading into the 2nd period.
In the 2nd, both goalies continued their excellent play, with Robbins making 10 saves, and Kayden Hargraves stopping 5 of 6. The Wolverines broke the deadlock late in the period, as Bohdan Panasenko got his fourth goal in four games to give Anchorage the lead back with 5:50 remaining. Despite the efforts of the Ice Dogs forward corps, good defensive play allowed Anchorage to carry that lead into the 3rd period.
Just like the first two periods, Anchorage scored first in the 3rd, with Talon Sigurdson deflecting a puck over Hargraves and into the back of the net. Anchorage would hang on to the lead until late in the 3rd, when Jack Ring scored on the power play with the Ice Dogs net empty. The Wolverines were able to recover however, and Jackson Reineke’s empty net goal sealed the Anchorage victory making the final score 4-2.
Talon Sigurdson’s game winner was his 18th of the season, and puts him three goals ahead of the next highest lamp lighter in the NAHL. Raythan Robbins’ 30 saves kept him undefeated in regulation, with a .930 save percentage. Anchorage now looks ahead to their next series, on the road in Fairbanks against the Ice Dogs.
