SPOONER, Wis. – A Curtis Magas marker 65 seconds into overtime was the difference as the Dryden GM Ice Dogs pulled out a narrow 4-3 victory over the Wisconsin Lumberjacks in Superior International Junior Hockey League play Wednesday night at the Spooner Civic Center.
Neither side would connect offensively in a scoreless opening frame as the two teams hit the intermission without a tally.
Action in the second stanza saw a four-goal outburst in under three minutes featured each side scoring twice.
Marshall got Dryden going midway through the match-up as he deflected a Jesse Mistelbacher attempt from the point.
Countering two minutes later, Wisconsin got that back as Jack Jones snapped an attempt towards the net that clipped off Dalton Garcia and in to knot the affair at 1-1.
Right off the draw though Marshall answered quickly with his second of the evening as he whipped a shot past Nathan Mueller in the Lumberjacks’ goal from the right circle.
Answering again, another redirection off a point shot saw the hosts level the proceedings once more that resulted in Alex Bren getting a piece off a Cameron Birkeland effort from the left point to change direction enough and beat GM Ice Dogs goalkeeper Jacob Anthony at 12:15.
Pressing the pace, Dryden continued to rack up the shot totals and were rewarded with a go-ahead marker from Evan Pakkala at 8:21 of the third.
Answering back once more, the Lumberjacks tied it with 4:15 remaining in regulation on another goal that began from the blueline as Braden Laporte snapped a shot that was knocked in by Parker Brakebill, who was parked in front of Anthony, to force extra time.
In OT, Magas got the game-winner as he took a cross-ice feed from Justin Pitari, skated in a few strides then went top shelf for the difference maker to end it on Dryden’s 55th shot on net.
Anthony finished with 30 saves to pick up the win while Mueller’s 51 stops helped Wisconsin earn a point in defeat.
Photo credit: Karina Schafer