Wilson Anderle continued his strong season with 1g & 1a
Goodmanson & Spetz battled hard thoughout the game- Goodmanson finished with 3g, 2a, & 11 SOG
Otten stopped 30 shots and made some huge saves when the game was still in doubt
Goodmanson finds the loose puck
The Buffalo Bison faced off with community rival St.Michael-Albertville Knights in a Mississippi-8 rematch Saturday night. Both teams came out playing a physical brand of hockey as the teams sought to impose their will on the other. In the end, the Bison outscored the Knight 8-4 and closed out the season-series with a sweep.
The Knights struck first with a goal from star defenseman Conner Spetz. “You always have to account for a special player like Spetz,” stated assistant coach Rory Dynan, “we just gave him an opening and like good players do, he sniped.”
Just four minutes later, the Bison’s celebrated scrorer Gunnar Goodmanson found that he was alone in showdown with freshmen goalie Kyle Hayden. Goodmanson took a sweet feed from Jerame Schuetzle in the high slot, drove to the net, and slipped the puck low stick-side to tie the game at one. Sophomore Michael Sawdey garnered the second assist on the play.
The Knights’ Tucker Bjorlin scored early in the second for a 2-1 lead when Bison backcheckers left him alone on the goalmouth.
Before the Knights could blink the Bison tied the game. Goodmanson showed why he is so dangerous on the rush. Senior captain Justin Laven deft pass sent Goodmanson and linemate Jake Ramsey on a 2-on-1 rush. Goodmanson slipped the puck by the sliding STMA defenseman and Ramsey’s quick wrister beat Hayden.
The Buffalo response was exactly what coach Dynan expected from his players. “Their second goal woke us up. The next shift our top line flexed their muscles and we got on a good roll.”
Goodmanson deposited a rebound at the goalmouth for his second goal six minutes later, Ramsey again assisted on the goal.
Forty seconds later, the Bison’s second line kept the momentum going when three seniors teamed to extend the lead to 4-2. Jake Michalko knocked Wilson Anderle’s rebound out of the air as Michalko was being driven into the net. Hunter Thompson also assisted on the goal.
After the frustrated Knights drew two penalties on the same play, Goodmanson collected the hat-trick on a 5-on-3 powerplay. Laven’s point shot caromed to Goodmanson at the side of the net. Reed Morehouse also assisted on the play.
Laven, Goodmanson, and Ramsey teamed on a second 5-on-3 powerplay to extend the lead to 6-2. Ramsey chipped a slick Goodmanson pass over Hayden.
Buffalo’s Schuetzle and Anderle finished the scoring in the third period. The goals came on the powerplay as both players outworked their opponents and scored from the tough areas. Mikey Otten stopped 30 shots and won his tenth game of the year.
With the victory Buffalo remains in second place in the M8 conference with 14 points. The Bison have a busy couple of weeks ahead with five games scheduled.
Jordan Carlson's speed & penalty-killing were key in the victory
Thompson finished with 2 assists in the game
