Photo Courtesy of the Tahoe Knight Monsters [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2759152b-29ab-4dea-a590-a6813451115b.jpeg] Photo Courtesy of the Tahoe Knight Monsters The Tahoe Knight Monsters have made one thing abundantly clear during their first playoff series in franchise history: they aren’t just happy to be here. They are in it to win it. Which is exactly what they did Friday at Tahoe Blue Event Center. In front of a sellout crowd, the Knight Monsters [https://knightmonstershockey.com/]edged the Wichita Thunder [https://wichitathunder.com/]3-2, sweeping the Mountain Division Semifinals in four games. Tahoe mounted a third-period comeback for the second time in the series with goals from Bear Hughes and Patrick Newell. Jesper Vikman shined again in net. Tahoe will advance to the Mountain Division Finals. “There's a lot of excitement, the guys have earned every second of it,” Knight Monsters head coach Alex Loh told reporters after the game. “To get the first playoff series out of the way is huge.” Adrien Bisson started the scoring for the Knight Monsters in the first period on a slap shot from the top of the zone. Bisson was back in the lineup after missing the previous two playoff games with injury. Tahoe carried that 1-0 lead into the second, continuously putting high-danger chances on Trevor Gorsuch. But the Wichita netminder stood tall in net, turning away all 16 shots he saw in the frame. The Thunder tried to back up Gorsuch by scoring two quick goals late in the middle frame. Spencer Blackwell tied things up with 4:30 to go and Joe Carroll made it 2-1 with just two minutes left on the clock. The Thunder carried that lead into the second intermission. For the second straight game, however, the Knight Monsters went into high gear in the third. They scored nine minutes in right after a power play expired, as Hughes chopped in a backhand on the doorstep off of a Jett Jones pass. With under three minutes to go, Newell took a beauty of a twister pass from Nate Kallen and sent it past Gorsuch to give Tahoe a 3-2 lead. For Newell, it was his second straight game with a clutch goal late in the third, and he is now up to three tallies in four playoff contests. Tahoe withstood a late push from the Thunder to polish off the sweep. Vikman made several key saves late, finishing with 25 stops on 27 shots for his fourth straight playoff win. “He’s been excellent for us all series, full credit to Jesper,” Loh said. The Knight Monsters are waiting for the Division series between the Kansas City Mavericks [https://kcmavericks.com/]and Tulsa Oilers [https://tulsaoilers.com/]to wrap up. KC leads that series 3-2. The schedule for the second-round series is currently TBD, but will be announced when that series has concluded. OILERS STAY ALIVE Photo Courtesy of the Tulsa Oilers [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/cdfdad93-b80f-4ed6-b558-420e802de69f.jpeg] Photo Courtesy of the Tulsa Oilers Speaking of the other Mountain Division Semifinal, the Tulsa Oilers got off the deck for a 4-1 victory over the Mavericks to cut KC’s series lead to 3-2. Tyler Poulsen scored a pair of goals, while Vyacheslav Buteyets stopped 41 shots to earn the win. After a scoreless opening period, Poulsen blasted a slapshot from the high slot past Mavs goalie Jack LaFontaine for a 1-0 Tulsa lead at 8:21. The goal ended a 92:20 shutout-streak and marked the first time the Oilers scored the opening goal of the game in the series. Conner Roulette added a power-play goal from the left circle, set up by Reid Petryk just 1:31 into the final period to put Tulsa up 2-0. The Mavericks got on the board after the Oilers built a 3-0 lead. David Cotton scored with an extra attacker, power-play goal with 3:01 remaining in the game. Poulsen added his second of the game on an empty-netter, bookending his opening tally for the 4-1 final. Tulsa travels back to Independence, Missouri for Game 6 on Monday at Cable Dahmer Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 Pm CT. NAILERS PREVENT AN ADMIRALS SWEEP Photo Courtesy of the Wheeling Nailers [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/5a1b892b-53b1-4b62-a881-66b1f11c1c6f.jpeg] Photo Courtesy of the Wheeling Nailers After scoring only one goal in the first three games of their North Division Semifinal series against the Norfolk Admirals [https://norfolkadmirals.com/], the Wheeling Nailers [https://wheelingnailers.com/]’ offense put four on the board against the previously impenetrable Thomas Milic for a 4-1 home victory. The Nailers now trail 3-1 in the series. Matty De St. Phalle potted two goals, and Jaxon Castor saved 29 shots in his series debut in net. De St. Phalle gave Wheeling its first lead of the entire series, ramming home a feed from Jordan Martel at the left side of the crease. The Admirals would answer 42 seconds later, but the Nailers regained the lead late in the first period on a Cole Tymkin forehander. Wheeling would add two more tallies in the third for the 4-1 final, including a De St. Phalle power-play marker from the left side. A quick start and a change in goal seemed to energize the Nailers, who will host Game 5 Saturday night at WesBanco Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:10 Pm ET.
