By Tanner Schafer
Spooner, WI – The Wisconsin Lumberjacks were able to erase 3 separate 1 goal differences before taking their first lead of the game and defeating the Kam River Fighting Walleye 5-3 on Saturday night. After a track meet on Friday the 1st period was a lot more physical as the Lumberjacks were determined to make it harder on the Kam River offense than the previous night. The increased physicality from the Lumberjacks led to a few bad penalties and with 5 minutes remaining in the 1st, the Fighting Walleye punished them with a power play goal. Kobe Braham scored the goal with assists going to Riley Borody and Josh Pufahl. Shots after the first period were 9-6 in favor of Wisconsin way lower than the 23-22 tally from a night ago.
In the 2nd period the Lumberjacks would tie the game with a goal from captain Salvatore Poggaili. Poggiali was back at forward after a stint on defense and was able to pace the Lumberjack offense, this first goal was assisted by Brandon McDonald. Halfway through the period the Fighting Walleye would answer back as Jeremy Dunmore beat Kyler Lowden to make it 2-1. The helpers on the goal would go to Kobe Braham and Kyle Lamoureux.
It was a big 3rd period for the Lumberjacks as they found the equalizer for a 2nd time 7 minutes into the period. Zach Carson rifled a shot past Eric Vanska on the power play after receiving the puck from Ryder McMillen and Poggiali. The Fighting Walleye weren’t going to give in easily as Anthony Oviedo gave his team the lead for the 3rd time in the game 3 minutes later. Riley Borody and Daxton Lang picked up the helpers. 4 minutes later on a pass across the slot from Ryder McMillen, Simon Davidson would bury his 2nd goal of the week to tie the game at 3. The Lumberjacks would gain their first lead of the night moments later thanks to another tally from Poggiali. Poggiali crashed to the front of the net and found a deflection that he put past Vanska for a 4-3 lead. Poggiali wouldn’t stop there, as he chased down Jack Cook of the Fighting Walleye minutes later, stripped him of the puck and passed it to McMillen allowing him to sink it into an empty net giving the Jacks a 5-3 lead.
Kyler Lowden would stop 25 shots in the game to secure the win. Vanska stopped 25 of 30 in a losing effort. Salvatore Poggiali was the 1st star of the game with 2 goals and 2 assists. Ryder McMillen had a goal and 3 assists for 2nd star of the game. Zach Carson has 2 points and secured 3rd star.
Both teams came away from the weekend series with 2 points, they will be back in action on Friday with Kam River hosting Thunder Bay and Wisconsin traveling to Fort Frances.