Bedford a win and a tie in weekend play

Fri. Feb. 8 – vs. Gibraltar-Carlson (SMCC Showcase)

Momentum swings were the order of the day when Bedford and Gibraltar-Carlson squared off in the SMCC Showcase.  Nothing could be resolved in the 51 minutes of regulation play.  After eight frantic minutes of overtime, everything stayed the same as the teams skated to a 3-3 tie.

The Mules survived penalty trouble in the first half of the third period, picking up four successive minor penalties.  Then it was Carlson’s turn as the Marauders were assessed five successive minor penalties, including two in the overtime period.  Bedford actually had a two player advantage for 82 seconds in the overtime, but they could not capitalize on it.

Carlson built a two goal lead with a late first period score, followed by a goal six minutes into the second period.  Then Noah Szenderski, assisted by Kyle Kuhr, got the Mules within one on a power play goal.  Just 38 seconds later Drew Goupille fired a blue line slap shot past the Carlson goalie and the game was tied.

But the Marauders regained the lead with just 17 seconds remaining in the second period on a short-handed goal.  Jimmy Schulty tied the game with 3:34 remaining in regulation to close out the scoring, assisted by Szenderski and Weston Swick.  Adam Glick kept Bedford in the game from start to finish, turning back 38 shots.

Sat. Feb. 9 – vs. Airport-Flat Rock (SMCC Showcase)

The Mules came into Saturday’s Showcase game expecting an easy ride, considering that the unified Airport-Flat Rock team had been soundly defeated 8-1 by SMCC on Friday evening.  It didn’t happen.

Instead it turned into yet another overtime game, but this time Bedford came out on top when Kyle Kuhr blasted the game-winner at 5:22 of the extra play.  Noah Szenderski and Jimmy Schulty picked up the assists.

Bedford built a 2-0 lead in the first period.  Darryl Kuchcinski opened the scoring, assisted by Jonathan Rokicki and Grant Harper.  Szenderski scored the second goal on the power play with two minutes left in the period, assisted by Josef Molnar and Weston Swick.  After that, the Mules were held scoreless for over 41 minutes until their last shot of the game.

The Jets tied the game at 2-2 with a pair of late second period goals, and that was it for regulation time.  Airport outshot the Mules by a 36-30 count.