WILLMAR - Willmar right wing Isaac Kobienia’s second goal of the game tied it 4-4 in the 11th minute of the third period and that’s the way it ended against Sartell on Tuesday at the Cardinal Arena.
The Sabres outshot Willmar 5-2 in the overtime period but Levi Goosmann, in the Cardinals’ net, made sure no damage was done.
“We had the pressure on them right away in the overtime and I thought we might be able to end early,” Willmar head coach Dan Tollefson said. “But Sartell held on.
“It was a high-quality game,” he continued. “It had a playoff feel. It’s a point in the [Central Lakes Conference] so we’ll take that any time we can.”
The visitors trailed 3-2 with a minute left in the middle frame only two score a power play goal and an even strength goal 10 seconds apart to take a 4-3 edge to the third period.
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Willmar took a 2-0 lead on Kobienia’s blue-line steal and solo break-in, making a nice move to his forehand to gain plenty of net. Hunter Mottinger followed at 11:11 with a bellringer off the top pipe on an explosive shot from high in the right circle, assisted by wingman Evan VanDenEinde.
It was Senior Night for 14 seniors and their parents.
Willmar is back on Thursday to host the St. Cloud Tech Tigers and then off to Alexandria on Friday to complete the regular season at the Runestone Center.
This was the first tie for both teams. Willmar lost 4-2 at Sartell on Jan. 9.
Willmar 4, Sartell 4 (tie)
Sartell (5-5-1, 11-11-1) 1 3 0 0 - 4
Willmar (3-7-1, 10-11-1) 2 1 1 0 - 4
FIRST PERIOD – Wil: Isaac Kobeinia 3:05, sh … Wil: Hunter Mottinger (Evan VanDenEinde) 11:11 …. Sar: Keenan Lund (Matt Moran, Braden Doucette) 12:367
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SECOND PERIOD – Sar: Spencer Zwiener (Kyle Erickson, Cullen Chisholm) 6:48, pp … Wil: Joey Lee (Ryan Woltjer, Cole Block) 13:32 … Sar: Zwiener (Matt Ringhand, Aaron Randall, Colin Johnson) 16:14, pp … Sar: Matt Ringhand (Aaron Randall, Johnson) 16:24
THIRD PERIOD – Wil: Isaac Kobeinia (Ryan Woltjer) 10:58, pp
OVERTIME – no scoring
GOALIE SHOTS-SAVES – Sartell: Elliott Brookins 6-12-13-2-33 … Willmar: Levi Goosman 8-8-8-5-29
