Magicians Weekly – February 10th

Feb 15, 2016

The Minnesota  Magicians picked up 1 of 4 possible points during an important home stand last weekend at Richfield Ice Arena. After falling in a shootout to the Coulee Region Chill on Friday, the Magic were defeated at the hands of the Brookings Blizzard on Saturday. As a result, the Magicians now sit 3 points out of the Central Division's final playoff spot with 19 games to go in the regular season. Upcoming this weekend are match ups with the Austin Bruins and the Cloquet Wilderness. 

Weekend Recap: 

Friday
The Coulee Region Chill came to town on Friday night and got the scoring started with a goal midway through period one. After taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, the Chill came out in the second and quickly expanded upon their lead with two more goals in the first five minutes of the period.  Needing a spark, the Magicians got one on a powerplay goal by Kyle Amundson (Johnny PanvicaCasey Jerry) to cut the Coulee lead to 3-1. A short time later, Matt Sherman found the back of the net for a shorthanded goal assisted by Jacob Gammicchia to make the score a much more manageable 3-2 heading into the second intermission.

In the third period, the Magicians were able to tie the game on a  powerplay goal from Casey Jerry (Kyle WagnerJack Christensen). Deadlocked at 3-3 midway through the final frame, the Chill were able to answer the Magicians' surge with a goal of their own to retake the lead. Next, assistant Captain Brady Heppner answered for the Magicians on a goal assisted by Spencer Kuhlman and Kyle Amundson to tie the game at 4 goals apiece. Heppner's goal would be the last goal of regulation and the game proceeded to overtime.

After a scoreless 3 vs. 3 overtime session, a shootout was needed to determine the winner. Both Magicians shooters failed to score, and 2 out of 3 Coulee shooters were able to beat goaltender Will Ulrich to secure the victory and an extra point in the standings. Ulrich stopped 34 out of the 38 shots that he faced during regulation and overtime in the loss.

Saturday
On Saturday, the Brookings Blizzard visited Richfield Ice Arena in an important Central Division game. The winner of the contest would move into sole possession of the fourth and final Central Division playoff spot.

In the first period, the Magicians got the scoring started on a goal from Brady Heppner assisted by Jack Christensen and Matt Sherman. Brookings was able to answer with a goal of their own and the teams entered the second period tied at 1-1. In the second period, the Blizzard were able to take  a brief lead before Matt Sherman scored his second goal of the weekend (Brady HeppnerJack Christensen) to even the score once again. Heading into the third period, it appeared to be anybody's hockey game, but 3 unanswered goals from Brookings  in the final 20-minutes of regulation was enough for them to coast to a 5-2 victory.

The Magicians will travel to Austin, Minnesota on Friday of this week to take on the Bruins at Riverside Arena. The following night, the Magicians will return to home ice in a game against the Cloquet Wilderness at 7:00 PM.

Central Division Standings