INDIANAPOLIS, Ind – While the Fargo Force completed their sweep of the Lincoln Stars early in the week, the East Division was still a long ways from being decided. Game one saw Indiana dominate the Gamblers while game two saw Green Bay edge the Ice late in the game. Game three promised a lot of excitement as the series moved to Indianapolis allowing the Ice their first home game of the best-of-five series.
Game three may have been one of the most eventful hokey games in the USHL playoffs this season. Each team had equal shots on net at 24, a shorthanded goal for each team, David Makowski continued his hot play with a power play goal for Green Bay, and later Makowski would even draw a penalty for playing with a broken stick! Despite the fun of the game, there was serious business on the ice that night. With the series tied at a game apiece, the Ice could hold Green Bay in a tight position with a win. An Indiana win means that the Gamblers could be facing elimination at the Pepsi Coliseum in game four.
In an eventful first period filled with four goals, eighteen shots, and three penalties, the game promised to be well worth the price of admission. Zach Golembiewski scored first for the Ice as he had a wonderful first period. His goal at 8:47 put the Ice up early. At 14:58 the game would get exciting as Green Bay would be penalized as Robert Shea was sentenced for elbowing. The penalty led to a shorthanded goal by C.J. Lee for the Gamblers at 15:48. After an Indiana penalty very late in the period, Zach Golembiewski would continue to light the lamp as he scored an unassisted shorthanded goal at 19:06 to place the Ice up a goal. Not to be outdone, David Makowski scored the lone power play goal of the evening at 19:32 to place the game at a two all tie going into the first intermission.
After the excitement of the first period the scoreless second would seem quite dull on the stats sheet. However the devout fan of ice hockey would have found it be an exciting physical match up as the period saw three roughing calls, two on Indiana and one to Green Bay. Green Bay was also penalized for tripping by Robert Shea midway through the period. Despite the aggressive physical play the oddest call may have come at the 12:07 mark when David Makowski was called for playing with a broken stick. While this is a legitimate call, it is one of the unusual rules of hockey that is unknown to many. The call on Makowski resulted in a minor penalty.
After a scoreless second period and the game tied at two apiece, the third period promised yet more fireworks as both teams looked for the one game lead going into game four. For a little over fourteen minutes, the game would continue to be scoreless. At 15:52, Max Cook would score for Indiana. The game winning goal placed the Ice up 3-2 late in the game and would become the unraveling of Green Bay that evening. David Makowski would endure a hooking call that resulted in a killed power play and Reed Seckel would melt down after with a spearing call after Brent Gwidt scored an empty net goal at 19:05 to seal the Indiana win.
With the 4-2 win, the Ice take a one game lead as the series stand two games to one.
You may contact the author at: john.strathman@prohockeynews.com
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