A busy month of action in Richfield continued last week when the Minnesota Magicians hosted Anchorage Wolverines in a pair of NAHL games. After a disappointing loss in the opener the Magicians responded with good team victory to salvage a series split.
Coming into the series the Magicians had won two straight. With confidence high, the team jumped on the visitors early with a 4-1 advantage in the first period. Spencer Light, Gavin Best, William Svenddahl and Lucas Kanta all lit the lamp for the home team.
An early powerplay opportunity was taken advantage of with the Wolverines adding another to cut the deficit to 4-3 midway through the second frame.
Hunter Lonhi restored a two-goal lead early in the third, but the momentum of the game was shifting. Just :55 later Anchorage scored to make the score 5-4. A bench minor was whistled on the Magicians, but Best would turn the tables scoring shorthanded for a 6-4 lead.
Penalties began taking a toll in the final half of the third period with Anchorage scoring on the man-advantage at 9:42. Five minutes later the game was tied 6-6 and yet another Anchorage powerplay led to the game winner scored by Aiden Westin at 18:05 of the period.
Three days later the Magicians were back on the ice facing the same Wolverines who started the game like they finished the previous. Best would score his 14th of the season in the opening period, but Anchorage took a 2-1 lead into intermission.
An inspired group came out in the second period and at 1:02 Robert Christy had tied the game 2-2 with his fifth tally of the season. Back-to-back Anchorage penalties then proved to be the difference as Trevor Kukkonen netted his 13th and 14th goals of the year, both on the powerplay, helping the Magicians go ahead 4-2.
The Wolverines were flying in the third with Danny Ries making it a one-goal game at 4:10. Despite being outshot 13-4 the Magicians defense and goaltender Hank Levy (28 saves in the game) held off the visitors. Daniil Dolzhenko added an empty net goal in the final seconds making it a 5-3 final.
Up next for the Minnesota Magicians (16-12-3-1) is a Wednesday night clash with the Chippewa Steel (17-15-0-1) who sit just one point back of the fourth place Magi.