Cloquet, MN – In a game where neither team could get a cushion, the MN Wilderness Wilderness escaped with a 4-2 victory over the Janesville Jets.
Neither team gained more than a two-goal lead, and Brett Heikkila's goal in the second period proved to be the difference maker.
MN Wilderness was paced by Heikkila, who grabbed one goal. Heikkila scored on the power play 10:32 into the second period to make the score 3-2 MN Wilderness. The Wilderness earned a power play opportunity when Mike Sullivan was put in the box for hooking. Billy Exell picked up the assist.
MN Wilderness excelled on the penalty kill, not giving up a single goal in three chances. With 35 shots on target during the contest, the Wilderness exceeded the 28.1 shots they average per game this year.
MN Wilderness also got points from Exell, who also had one goal and one assist. MN Wilderness also got a goal from Jakob Romo as well. In addition, MN Wilderness received assists from Thomas Lindstrom, who had two and John May and Dan Litchke, who contributed one a piece.
Janesville was hit hard by penalties in the contest, and totaled seven minors and one major for 19 minutes in penalty time.
The Jets were helped by Robin Hoglund, who finished with one goal. Hoglund scored 7:06 into the first period to make the score 2-1 Janesville. Adam Winborg assisted on the tally. zach keryluk also scored for Janesville. Other players who recorded assists for Janesville were Kyle Patava and Nick Petrella, who each chipped in one.
MN Wilderness' Kasimir Kaskisuo stopped 19 shots out of the 21 that he faced. The Wilderness totaled 11 minutes in penalty time with three minors and one major and went 2-for-7 on the power play. Brock Kautz made 31 saves for Janesville on 35 shots.