Before the Ice Wolves can go home for the holiday break they must play the Amarillo Bulls for the second straight weekend. Last weekend it was the Bulls taking all three games in the form of shutouts, moving them into third place in the league (21-5-1-2). As for the Ice Wolves, this weekend marked the first time they have been home in a month. Going into tonight the Ice Wolves were at 12 points (5-24-0-2).
The Ice Wolves started Garrett Mackay, making it his third ever NAHL game. As for the Bulls they went with best goalie in the league, Charlie Glockner. Glockner leads all goalies in shutouts (6) and goals-against-average (1.35). The Bulls started the first period firing the puck from every possible angle. They got on the score sheet first after Ty Black (4) found the rebound after Mackay made a big first save. About two minutes later and for the first time this season the Ice Wolves scored a regulation goal against the Bulls. The goal was scored by Connor Kemp (2) after he backhanded the puck off the left arm of Glockner. The score would not stay tied for too long as Devan Tongue (6) wasted no time scoring on the Bulls first power play of the game. Amarillo recorded 19 shots on Mackay and the Ice Wolves put up nine on Glockner.
Shortly over five minutes into the middle period, Matt Allen (14) scored on another power play, giving the Bulls a 3-1 lead. While they were down by a pair the Ice Wolves were not backing down. Both teams tallied nine shots in the second period but the Ice Wolves were able to pull within one before the end of the period. With less than two minutes left, Alex Dominique (6) was fed a pass from Spencer Rudrud and was able to put it under the pads of Glockner. Sending the Ice Wolves into another intermission down by one.
In the final period of regulation there was only one goal scored. The goal was scored by Sean Henry (2) as he took a wrist shot from the top of the left point. His shot went right through traffic and past Glockner to tie the game at 3-3. Once again both teams finished the period with nine shots. The momentum was certainly favoring the Ice Wolves with their late third period goal. However even with the hometown crowd behind them they were unable to get another one past Glockner, sending the game into overtime. The last time these two teams needed more than 60 minutes to decide a winner was their first ever meeting. That game however was 0-0 going into overtime and required four rounds in the shootout before Griffen Sanom secured the full two points.
In the 3-on-3 OT, both teams registered a shot but the lone one for Amarillo was the difference maker. On an odd-man rush it was Lauri Sertti (5) that was able to squeak it past Mackay. Giving them their sixth-straight win and fifth against New Mexico. New Mexico had 28 shots and Amarillo had 38 when the final horn sounded. With their point however, New Mexico is now only three points behind Odessa for sixth place in the South. Game two is tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. at the Outpost Ice Arenas. To purchase tickets click here.