Staff
Close but no cigar.
The Minnesota Iron Rangers nearly pulled off their first win at the Ice For Kids Arena this season Saturday night.
Instead, it was heartbreak for the visitors, who fell 3-2 in a shootout to the host Fort Frances Lakers as Nolan Ross scored the only goal of the breakaway battle.
The Lakers (28-6-0-1) won their third-straight outing game, and notched their 10th win in 11 tries against Minnesota (13-19-2-1), when Ross used a nifty backhand deke to put the puck over the outstretched pad of Iron Rangers’ goalie Anthony Pupplo in the third round.
Brandon Bodnar then slammed the door shut on Anthony Ramirez—punctuating his pad save by fist-pumping excitedly while sliding on one knee towards his ecstatic teammates pouring off the bench.
Dylan Robertson netted the only goal of the first period.
Minnesota then jumped in front when Alex Mimmack and Eric Madison scored on both halves of a two-man advantage midway through the second.
The Lakers’ power-play struggled without defenceman Nick Minerva to quarterback it, who was serving a one-game suspension for his game misconduct late in the game against the Dryden GM Ice Dogs the previous weekend.
But after misfiring on their first five chances, the Lakers cashed in on their sixth when Roshen Jaswal zipped a wrist shot past Pupplo in the third for the equalizer.
Bodnar (9-3) finished with 25 saves through regulation and overtime to earn his sixth win in seven starts.
Forward Dylan Kooner and defenceman Robbie Bonthron remained out with injury while Fort native David Pryde was in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 8.
The Lakers next will face the Thunder Bay North Stars (20-17-0-2) tomorrow in their opening game at the annual “SIJHL Showcase,” which runs through Thursday in Hoyt Lakes, Mn.
Their next home game is slated for Feb. 6 against the English River Miners.
