Friday Finals: Odessa snaps streak with win over Mustangs

New Mexico 1 @ Odessa 3 - Thanks to power-play goals from Willie Faust and Sheldon Taylor, the Odessa Jackalopes snapped a five-game losing streak Friday at Ector County Coliseum, outpacing the New Mexico Mustangs 3-1 to improve to 6-10-2 on the year and remain alone in fifth place in the NAHL’s South Division Standings. Faust’s first period marker, his seventh of the season and tenth overall point, moved him into a tie for second on the team in goals and total points alongside fellow Jacks sniper and linemate Chad Hennum.  Tyler Poulson notched the Jacks’ third goal, an insurance marker coming at even-strength, at 7:30 of the second. The goal was Poulson’s second of the season and second in the past three games.  Connor Hellebuyck had another strong showing in net for Odessa, improving to 5-7-2 in his 14th start of the season. The Commerce, Michigan native stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced in his fourth consecutive start.  Marcus Nordlund scored the lone goal for New Mexico, while Jake Stafford made 34 saves in the loss for the Mustangs. Boxscore

Jamestown 2 @ Port Huron 3 – Logan Lemirande’s shorthanded goal in the 3rd period was the difference as the Fighting Falcons moved back into 1st place in the North Division with a win over the Ironmen.  Boxscore

Traverse City 5 @ Michigan 1 – Thanks to 37 saves from Kyle Laslo, the North Stars handed Michigan their 9th straight loss.  Four North Stars players had multi-point games and the win was Traverse City’s third straight on the road. Boxscore

Janesville 3 @ Springfield 5 – Chris Sitler and Josef Pontasch each scored twice and Kyle Cook had three assists as Springfield defeated the Jets, 5-3.  Both teams went 2 for 4 on the power play. Boxscore

Amarillo 5 @ Topeka 3 – Brooks Behling scored twice including the game-winning goal as the 1st place Bulls increased their lead in the South with a road win over Topeka.  Tyler Deresky also had a goal and assist for the Bulls. Boxscore

Corpus Christi 1 @ Wichita Falls 2 – NA3HL graduate Matt Leon made 37 saves and Jason Eddy scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 2nd period as the Wildcats topped the IceRays.  Anthony Stolarz made 29 saves in the loss for Corpus Christi. Boxscore

Austin 1 @ Aberdeen 4 – Cory Ward scored twice and added two assists, and Frederick Leisner made 39 saves as the Wings moved above .500 with a 4-1 win at home over the Bruins. Boxscore

Minot 1 @ Bismarck 5 – The Bobcats scored five times in the 3rd period and increased their lead in the Central Division to 10 points thanks to two goals from Castan Sommer and 21 saves from Tommy Burke. Boxscore

Coulee Region 2 @ Alexandria 5 – Craig Lindegard had two goals and four other Blizzard players had multi-point nights in a home win over the Chill.  Alexandria outshot Coulee Region, 51-26. Boxscore

St. Louis 3 @ Chicago 2 – Joe Kalisz scored twice including the game-winning goal on the power play in the 3rd period as the Bandits stayed atop the Midwest Division with a 3-2 win.  Nick Kohn had 43 saves in the loss for the Hitmen, while Spencer Viele picked up the win with 27 saves. Boxscore

Alaska 2 @ Dawson Creek 4 – The Rage snapped a five-game skid with a home win over the Avs.  Edward Dyson made 43 saves in the win, while forward Shawn Mueller scored twice for Dawson Creek. Boxscore

Texas 3 @ Fresno 2 (SO) – Texas erased a two-goal deficit with goals from Mico Solorzano and Ondrej Kopta and Jordan Lovick scored the lone shootout goal.  Jeffrey McMinimy and Jordan Haskell scored for Fresno. Boxscore

Kenai River 4 @ Fairbanks 3 (SO) – In a game that featured five power play goals, the Brown Bears scored twice in the 3rd period and twice in the shootout to increase their West Division lead to five points.  Austin Severson made 30 saves in the win for Kenai River. Boxscore