DES MOINES, Iowa – The Ontario Reign took advantage of a pair of late goals to secure a 3-1 win over the Iowa Wild at Casey’s Center on Saturday night.
Iowa jumped out a 1-0 lead 8:35 into the first period on the power play. After Dylan Gambrell sent the puck through the slot, Ben Jones sent a shot pass that Gerry Mayhew deflected past Pheonix Copley (26 saves).
The Wild outshot the Reign 12-8 in the opening 20 minutes.
Nikita Alexandrov tied the game 14:40 into the middle frame with a forehand finish past William Rousseau (22 saves) on the power play.
Iowa outshot Ontario 23-18 through two periods.
Martin Chromiak picked up a loose puck and tucked it inside the post at 15:43 to put the Reign ahead for good.
Andre Lee scored on the empty net with 37 seconds to play to wrap up the scoring.
Iowa outshot Ontario 27-25. The Wild finished 1-for-5 with the man advantage while the Reign went 1-for-2 on the power play.
Iowa visits Allstate Arena to play the Chicago Wolves on Sunday, Mar. 22 at 5 p.m.
Iowa Wild hockey is presented by Kwik Star. For more information on Iowa Wild hockey, visit www.iowawild.com. Season tickets for 2026-27 are on sale now. Fans can purchase season tickets for the upcoming season at https://www.iowawild.com/wild-365.
For the third game in a row, the Wolf Pack opened the scoring. Bryce McConnell-Barker fired a shot from the left-wing wall that Artur Akhtyamov denied. Akhtyamov also denied Carey Terrance on a rebound but kicked the puck back to McConnell-Barker.
The second-year forward sent a pass to the right-wing circle for Scott Morrow, who ripped a shot over the right shoulder of Akhtyamov at 4:39 to make it 1-0.
The Marlies responded at 12:13, striking just 16 seconds into their first power play. Spencer Martin lost his skate blade in the crease, but still made the initial save with a two-pad stack. The puck sat on the goal line, where Anton Blidh tried to dig it free and clear it. Logan Shaw was able to get a stick on it first, however, poking his 21st goal of the season over the line to make it 1-1.
The Marlies scored their second power play goal of the game just 37 seconds into the middle stanza. William Villeneuve fired a shot that beat Martin by the glove but clipped the iron. The rebound came to Shaw, however, who buried his second goal of the game to make it 2-1 for the Marlies.
Just 24 seconds later, Luke Haymes extended the lead to 3-1. Haymes muscled his way to the front of the net and stuffed a puck by the right pad of Martin at 1:01 for his 16th goal of the season.
The Wolf Pack were able to calm things down, however, and got the game to 3-2. McConnell-Barker fired a shot from the right-wing wall that clipped Brody Lamb in front. The puck bounced by Akhtyamov to give Lamb his first career professional goal at 3:03.
The Wolf Pack pushed hard for the equalizer, pouring the pressure onto Akhtyamov. They were unable to even the affair before the Marlies struck twice to extend the game to 5-2 by the second intermission.
Haymes snapped a shot from the slot that Martin denied at 12:21, but the rebound came to the side of the net where Ben King was waiting. King deposited the loose change for his first goal as a Marlie, making it 4-2.
47 seconds later, another rebound found the back of the net as Ryan Tverberg made it 5-2. A Shaw shot from the right-wing was denied by Martin, but Tverberg collected the rebound in the left-wing circle and beat Martin with a backhander at 13:08.
The goal was Tverberg’s second against the Wolf Pack this season.
Landon Sim’s first career AHL goal came 8:39 into the final frame off a scramble in front. Sim jammed a loose puck home to make it a 6-2 game, putting the Marlies out of reach.
Terrance completed his first career three-point game at 18:57 when he tipped in a Morrow shot from the right-wing point. The goal made it 6-3 and was the rookie’s seventh of the season.
Charlotte, NC – The Charlotte Checkers came ready to play and pounced on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms who were still feeling their way into the game. A 3-0 lead in the opening minutes was more than enough for the decision as Charlotte eventually prevailed in a 5-1 decision on Saturday afternoon.
Brian Pinho (9th, 10th) capped the day with a pair of goals in the third period after providing a helper in the first to pace the Checkers’ attack with a three-point performance. Big Cooper Black (23/24) picked up his 21st win of the season.
Lehigh Valley (27-28-6) received a goal from Oscar Eklind (8th) to break Black’s shutout bid in the third period but that was all for the Orange and Black against Charlotte’s stingy defending.
Charlotte (36-20-5) has had several strong starts against the Phantoms this season and the trend continued with back-to-back goals in the first 125 seconds of the contest. Nate Smith popped the puck free on the forecheck and connected with onrushing defender Mitch Vande Sompel (3rd) who buried it from the right dot at 52 seconds for the initial strike. And Noah Gregor took a pass from Pinho and curled right around Aleksei Kolosov’s poke-check attempt to stuff it in and suddenly it was 2-0 at just 2:05 into the game.
Rookie Jack Devine (16th) sliced through a pair of defenders and found the handle on a hopping puck to the net-front to rifle one through Kolosov close range at 8:15 to boost the lead to 3-0 in the opening frame. Charlotte outshot the Phantoms 10-3 in the first period.
The Phantoms were far stronger in the second period and had several strong chances at Black who made 11 straight saves to preserve the 3-0 margin. Anthony Richard was robbed right in front after Jacob Gaucher forced a turnover from the Checkers’ goaltender. Phil Tomasino had a strong drive from the dot that went off the shoulder of Black.
Adam Ginning helped force a turnover and Phil Tomasino found Eklind in the left dot who rifled it to the upper-right corner, past the glove of Black, to make it 3-1 at 7:48 into the third. Eklind has a two-game goal streak.
David Jiricek carried it in deep looking for a wraparound during increased efforts to close the gap further but his drop sailed through and created an odd-man rush the other way which Brian Pinho buried at 10:50 to put the Checkers back up by three again at 4-1. Pinho’s backhander from the neutral zone found the empty net to complete the scoring.
Charlotte improved to 5-0-0 against the Phantoms who are 0-3-2 against Charlotte.
Adam Ginning played in his 233rd game to break the all-time record for most games by a defenseman in Lehigh Valley history previously held by Reece Willcox at 232.
The Phantoms and Checkers will rematch on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. to conclude the weekend series.
The Phantoms have home games left in the regular season including two next weekend beginning with Hockey is for Everyone Night on Friday, March 27 against the Springfield Thunderbirds and Saturday Night Hockey Live against the Hershey Bears on March 28.
Winnipeg, MB – The Tucson Roadrunners (28-23-9-0) opened their weekend series north of the border with a 4-3 win over the Manitoba Moose (29-23-5-1) on Saturday afternoon at Canada Life Centre. The victory extended Tucson’s win streak to three games.
Tucson trailed 1-0 after the first period before responding with two goals in the second to take a one-goal lead into the third. Daniil But tied the game at 1-1 just 59 seconds into the middle frame, and Andrew Agozzino scored on a breakaway to give the Roadrunners their first lead of the afternoon at 8:01.
Manitoba quickly answered in the third, as Walker Duehr evened the game at 2-2 less than three minutes into the period. Tucson responded with back-to-back goals to regain the lead. Agozzino struck again on the power play at 5:45, finishing a highlight-reel setup from Scott Perunovich, and Austin Poganski added what proved to be the game-winner at 15:05.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan pulled Manitoba within one with 20 seconds left, but Tucson held on for the 4-3 victory.
Two Roadrunners recorded multi-point performances, led by Daniil But, who finished with three points (1g, 2a). Agozzino added two goals for Tucson.
Five additional Roadrunners registered points, all via assists. In addition to Poganski’s game-winner, while defensemen Robbie Russo, Montana Onyebuchi, Dmitri Simashev and Perunovich each recorded primary assists on Tucson’s four goals.
Goaltender Jaxson Stauber stopped 17 of 20 shots to earn his 13th win of the season.
With the win, Tucson remains in eighth place in the Pacific Division with 65 points. The Roadrunners now sit three points back of San Diego for the final playoff spot and four back of Coachella Valley for sixth place. Tucson will look to even the season series Monday against the Moose in their final meeting of the campaign.
HIGHLIGHTS
TEAM NOTES
Daniil But’s power-play goal at 0:59 of the second period marked Tucson’s fastest goal to begin a second or third period this season. The previous fastest was Ben McCartney’s goal at 1:18 of the second period vs. Colorado on Jan. 30.
The Roadrunners are 11-6-0-0 in their last 17 road games, dating back to 1/2 at CGY, and 15-11-2-0 overall this season.
Tucson is 8-2-2-0 in one-goal games on the road and 14-3-8-0 overall.
Saturday’s victory was the franchise’s first in Manitoba. The Roadrunners are now 1-2 against the Moose this season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Daniil But recorded his eighth multi-point game of the season (1-2–3) to extend his scoring streak to a season-high three games, dating back to March 14 vs. San Jose, totaling eight points (4g, 4a) in that span.
Saturday’s tally marked But’s team-high sixth power-play goal of the season, tied for the team lead with Andrew Agozzino and tied for the fifth-most among AHL rookies.
Dmitri Simashev extended his assist streak to a team season-high four games, dating back to March 11 vs. Henderson, totaling five assists in that span.
Andrew Agozzino recorded his third multi-goal and seventh multi-point game of the season (2-0–2).
Three of Agozzino’s multi-point performances have come in the last four games dating back to March 11 vs. Henderson.
Agozzino extended his scoring streak to three games (5g, 1a) and his point streak to four games (5g, 4a). He has also now scored in the third period in each of the last three games, dating back to March 14 vs SJ.
Agozzino’s second goal of the game in the third period marked his sixth power play goal of the season, tied with Daniil But for the team lead.
Agozzino is now just three power-play goals shy of 100 for his AHL career.
Robbie Russo tallied his eighth assist of the season and has three assists in his last three games dating back to March 11 vs. Henderson.
Scott Perunovich recorded his team-high 32nd assist and 14th power-play assist of the season on Agozzino’s third-period goal.
Perunovich now sits three assists shy of tying Jamie McBain for the most in a single season by a Roadrunners defenseman (35 in 2016-2017) and four points shy of tying Kyle Wood for the most points by a Roadrunners defenseman in a single season (43).
Austin Poganski scored his 18th goal of the season to extend his point streak to a season-best four games, dating back to March 15 vs. SJ, totaling seven points (4g, 3a) in that span.
Saturday’s goal was Poganski’s third game-winning goal of the season, tied for the team lead.
Montana Onyebuchi notched his career-high ninth assist and 10th point of the season, tying his career-high of 10 points set in 2024–25 and 2022–23 with San Jose.
Jaxson Stauber recorded his 49th career AHL victory.
Stauber has now wonfour of his last five starts dating back to March 1 at SJ and has won five of his last seven starts, dating back to February 25 at SD.
With a fight and an assist, Tucson’s Montana Onyebuchi finished just a goal shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick on Saturday. (Photo: Manitoba Moose)
THE RUNDOWN
FIRST PERIOD
Just over three minutes in, defenseman Montana Onyebuchi dropped the gloves with Moose defenseman Tyrel Bauer at center ice. The two energized the crowd with an electrifying and marathon-long bout before both players ran out of steam.
Past the five-minute mark, both teams generated a handful of early scoring chances. Roadrunners goaltender Jaxson Stauber made a key stop with his right skate on Manitoba forward Chase Yoder to keep the game scoreless.
Through the midway point of the period, possession was evenly split, reflected in the shot totals as both teams were tied 4-4.
Manitoba broke through at 15:40, as forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan opened the scoring. His snap shot from just inside the left faceoff dot beat Stauber glove side and rang off the right post before finding the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Tucson’s penalty kill came up strong late in the period, limiting Manitoba’s man advantage to no shots on goal and denying any Grade-A opportunities.
The momentum carried over, as Tucson’s Cameron Hebig drew a holding penalty against Moose defenseman Ashton Sautner in the waning seconds to give the Roadrunners a late power play that carried over into the middle frame.
SECOND PERIOD
Tucson opened middle frame on the man advantage and capitalized quickly. Daniil But tied the game at 1-1 with a sharp-angle snipe over the right shoulder of Moose goaltender Thomas Milic just 59 seconds into the period.
Past the five-minute mark, the Roadrunners continued to tilt the ice and hemmed Manitoba in its own zone with an effective forecheck and sustained offensive pressure. Tucson led shots 5-1 in the period and 9-7 overall at that point.
Andrew Agozzino gave Tucson its first lead of the night at 8:01, finishing a breakaway with a blocker-side shot after a full-ice stretch pass from defenseman Robbie Russo to make it 2-1. The goal capped off a dominant stretch for the Roadrunners, who led shots 8-1 in the period and 12-7 overall.
In the final minute, Jaxson Stauber came up with a pair of key stops, including a right-pad save on a one-timed chance from Moose forward Mason Shaw at the top of the crease.
For the second straight period, Tucson drew a penalty in the final minute, as Samuel Fagemo was whistled for high-sticking, giving the Roadrunners another late power play that carried over into the third period.
THIRD PERIOD
Tucson was unable to capitalize on the carryover power play to begin the period, generating just one shot as Hebig’s wrister from the top of the circle was swallowed up by Milic.
Manitoba evened the game at 2-2 just before the three-minute mark, as Walker Duehr fired a wrist shot from above the left faceoff circle that beat Stauber blocker side.
Agozzino responded on the power play just before the six-minute mark, restoring Tucson’s lead. Defenseman Scott Perunovich danced through two defenders before feeding Agozzino, who snapped a shot over Milic’s right shoulder to make it 3-2.
The Roadrunners’ penalty kill was called upon again at 8:29 and delivered, holding Manitoba without a shot on goal for the second time in the game.
Despite being shorthanded, Tucson continued to apply pressure. Julian Lutz nearly extended the lead on a breakaway at 13:53, but was denied by Milic’s blocker.
Austin Poganski pushed the lead to 4-2 at 15:05, finishing a rebound off Onyebuchi’s one-timer that kicked off Milic’s left pad.
Just 20 seconds later, Jack Ricketts appeared to extend the lead to three on a wraparound attempt. The puck looked to cross the goal line, but the officials’ on-ice ruling of no goal was upheld after video review.
Manitoba pulled within one late on a goal from Dolan with 20 seconds remaining, but Tucson held on for a 4-3 victory.
UP NEXT
Tucson will look to complete the series sweep in Monday’s finale against Manitoba at Canada Life Centre. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. AZT.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Returning to Total Mortgage Arena for the first time in two weeks, the Bridgeport Islanders fought back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Hershey Bears, 4-3, in a shootout in the final Sound Tiger Saturday of the regular season.
The Bears struck 1:22 into the contest as Andrew Cristall converted on his 15th goal of the season. Sonny Milano continued Hershey’s scoring with his fourth of the season at 11:35 into the opening period.
Liam Foudy collected a loose puck and fired home his 22nd goal of the season from the slot 1:50 into the second period, cutting Bridgeport’s deficit in half. The goal gave Foudy his fourth consecutive home game recording a point, as he has collected six points (4-2–6) over that span.
Hershey responded at 8:46, as Ilya Protas picked up a loose puck in a net-front scrum and slid it home for his 26th of the year to take a 3-1 lead.
The Islanders answered back thanks to Matthew Highmore, who collected a pass from the right wing boards and ripped it past Mitch Gibson at 13:32 into the second period to cut the deficit to 3-2.
In the third period, the Islanders evened the score at three thanks to Daylan Kuefler, who buried a rebound for his seventh of the season 7:13 into the frame.
After a scoreless overtime, the Islanders gained the extra point in the shootout thanks to a game-winner from Alex Jefferies in the seventh round.
Cole Eiserman recorded a shot in his professional debut.
The Islanders will visit the Bears tomorrow at the GIANT Center at 3 p.m. They will return home on Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. as they take on the Charlotte Checkers. Tickets can be found on www.bridgeportislanders.com.
The San Diego Gulls took down the Bakersfield Condors in an exciting matchup tonight at Pechanga Arena San Diego, 7-4.
The first period was full of action as the Gulls put up four goals in the period for the first time this season. Scoring started early for the Gulls as Judd Caulfield put the puck through just 2:52 into the opening frame. The winger has found 16 goals this season and has totaled 35 points, 10 more than his total found last season. Bakersfield responded quickly, but moments later Stian Solberg gave the Gulls their lead back. The defenseman has found 10-7=17 points this season, with his 10 goals ranking tied for the most among rookie blueliners.
Matthew Phillips skated in his 400th career AHL game and made it a memorable one, finding the back of the net on the powerplay for the third San Diego goal. Phillips later tallied an assist and now totals 12-31=43 points this season, the second most of all Gulls skaters. Less than two minutes later Justin Bailey netted the fourth goal of the period. The goal broke a nine-game goal drought for Bailey, who leads all Gulls skaters in goals this season with 19.
“Feels good to be at home,” Nathan Gaucher said. “Feels good to have our fans. I think we’re comfortable playing at home as well. But we needed that start, and we got it. It’s good for us.”
Tristan Luneau logged his ninth multi-point game of the season with a goal and an assist. Luneau put a snipe through to score what would ultimately be the game-winning goal, his second of the year. The defenseman has recorded 5-10=15 points in his past 10 contests and leads all Gulls defensemen in points with 9-24=33 found.
Scoring did not stop there as Nikita Nesterenko put one through to make it six in the third period. The forward earlier tallied an assist, making tonight his third multi-point game of the season. Cal Burke added one more for good measure, scoring his second goal of the season on the empty net. Burke also ended the night with 1-1=2 points, his first multi-point game of the season.
Goaltender Tomas Suchanek has another solid night between the pipes. Suchanek saved 15 shots, logging his third consecutive and fifth overall victory of the season.
“It’s fun to have a goalie that battles hard every time, he never gives up,” Tyson Hinds said. “That’s a big thing for us, and big thing for him too. So it’s good. We have confidence in them, and both of our goalies are playing really good these days so it’s really good. Like I said, he battles hard and never gives up.”
Nathan Gaucher and Sam Colangelo ended the night with two assists while Sasha Pastujov, Yegor Sidorov, and Tyson Hinds all tallied one each.
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