Saturday Scores: Bulls sweep to stay atop NAHL

Cover photo by Michael Norris

Odessa 0 @ Amarillo 1 - The Amarillo Bulls posted their first shutout of the season on Saturday night en route to their eighth win in a row.  Brooks Behling scored the lone goal in the second period and Gregg Gruehl stopped 22 shots as Amarillo blanked the Odessa Jackalopes 1-0. The victory improved the Bulls record to 14-1-2 and a four point lead in the South Division. Amarillo wired 62 shots on goal including 26 in the first period and 20 in the final stanza.  Behling’s goal came at the 5:36 mark of the second period and started with a terrific save by goaltender Gruehl. After the stop, the Bulls worked the puck up ice the ice and Greg Gibson found Behling wide open for a one-timer.  The Bulls dominated most of the play from right off the opening face-off for the second straight night, and if it wasn’t for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck the score could have been much more lopsided.  There were a total of 12 power plays with the Bulls going 0 for 8 including several opportunities in the third period.  Boxscore

Alexandria 2 @ Austin 1 – The Alexandria Blizzard completed a road sweep of the Austin Bruins with a 2-1 win on Saturday night.  Goaltender Jacob Meyers made 31 saves in the win and Reid Sturos scored both Alexandria goals.  Boxscore

Port Huron 5 @ Kalamazoo 2 – The Fighting Falcons took sole possession of 1st place with a 5-2 win over the Jr. K-Wings, fueled by goals from five different players and 29 saves from Peter Megariotis.  Boxscore

Michigan 2 @ Jamestown 4 – The Ironmen completed a weekend sweep over the Warriors thanks to three points nights from Anthony Coles and Jeff McFarland and two goals from Corey Beaulieu.  Boxscore

Bismarck 4 @ Coulee Region 1 – The Bobcats earned a weekend series split thanks to three points and two goals from Tyler Richter and 22 saves from Aaron Nelson.  Boxscore

Topeka 4 @ Springfield 3 – Jake Lynes scored twice and Sean Gaffney’s goal with just a little more than a minute remaining gave Topeka the win and a weekend sweep of the Jr. Blues.  Boxscore

St. Louis 4 @ Janesville 5 – Connor McBride and Pijus Rulevicius each had two goals and an assist as Janesville snapped a three-game losing skid with a 5-4 win over the visiting Bandits.  Boxscore

Corpus Christi 2 @ Wichita Falls 5 – The Wildcats scored three, 3rd period goals breaking a 2-2 deadlock en route to their first win in five games.  Dennis Kravchecnko and Chris Pontello each had three points. Boxscore

Minot 2 @ Aberdeen 3 – Tyler Dunagan’s 3rd period goal was the difference as the Wings edged the visiting Minotauros, completing the weekend sweep. Boxscore

Texas 9 @ New Mexico 3 – Jack Prince had four goals and Marc Biggs and Jordan Greenberg had three points each as the Tornado outshot the Mustangs 38-24 on their way to the 9-3 win. Boxscore

Kenai River 6 @ Dawson Creek 3 – In a game that featured just one penalty, the Brown Bears increased their West lead thanks to a three point night from Brett Lubanski and 37 saves from Paul Bourbeau. Boxscore

Wenatchee 2 @ Alaska 0 – Greg Lewis stayed hot between the pipes, stopping all 21 Avs shots while Trevor Husch and Max McHugh scored for Wenatchee in a road shutout of Alaska. Boxscore