The Alexandria Blizzard hockey team is set to host a Wednesday night game against the Minnesota Loons this week as the Blizzard try to bounce back from a weekend sweep against the first-place team in the West Division.
Granite City has been a thorn in the side of every West Division opponent this season as the Lumberjacks left Alexandria with a 31-1 record on Saturday night. They beat Alexandria 9-2 on Friday and then completed the sweep with a 5-2 win on Saturday.
Ryan Hadland gave the Blizzard a 1-0 lead in the first period in game two, but Ben Anderson tied the game for Granite City less than two minutes later. Zak Kennett then scored twice before the second period to make it 3-1 Lumberjacks.
Alexandria’s Kaden Peterson scored the lone goal of the second period to give the Blizzard some life going into the third trailing just 3-2. But Tucker Skime and Cory Warner put the finishing touches on the win for Granite City with goals in that final frame.
Sean Kenny had two assists for the Blizzard, while Kyle Mischke and Hadland added an assist as well. Andrew Tuttle took the loss in net with 44 saves and the 5 goals allowed. Xander Roberts earned the win for the Lumberjacks with 19 saves.
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It was all Granite City on Friday night as the Lumberjacks led 6-1 after the opening period. Erick Sanborn and Kenny both had goals for the Blizzard, and Peterson, Ethan Moerke, Matt McIntyre and Justin Wasvick added assists.
Ben Anderson and Carson Van Zuilen led a balanced effort for the Lumberjacks with two goals apiece.
Quentin Sigurdson got the win in net on Friday with 22 saves, while Joey Greilich took the loss for Alexandria with 10 saves and 3 goals allowed in 10:21 of ice time. Bailey Rosch played 49:39 and was peppered with 48 shots, stopping 42 of them, on a night where Granite City outshot the Blizzard 61-24.
The Lumberjacks have 62 points and a 13-point lead over Mason City (24-9-1, 49 points) in the West Division. Alexandria is in fourth place in the division with 31 points and a 15-14-1 record.
The Blizzard have a chance to get a couple more points if they can take care of business against the bottom team in the division on Wednesday night at the Runestone Community Center. Puck drop against the Minnesota Loons (5-27, 10 points) is set for 7:10 p.m.
