WILLMAR -- Fergus Falls rallied from a three-goal deficit to start the third period and scored 15 seconds into overtime to beat Willmar 5-4 in a Central Lakes Conference and a crucial Section 6A boys hockey game Friday.
Fergus Falls entered the game with a 6-3-1 mark against section foes while Willmar was 5-3 against teams from 6A. Alexandria and Sartell have only one loss in the section standings and Detroit Lakes also has five wins. The top four teams receive a first-round bye for the playoffs.
Behind three power-play goals in the second period -- two from Gabe Amon -- the Cardinals entered the final period with what seemed to be a comfortable 4-1 lead.
But the Otters netted three goals in the first 7:39 of the third period to tie the game. Fergus Falls outshot Willmar 8-3 in the final period and 28-19 for the game.
"They had a shot from the point into traffic in front of the net. Ben (Leitch) got a piece of it, but it kicked out to Michael Hallisey and he put it right in," said Willmar coach Dan Tollefson of the overtime goal. "We had a nice power play. We were moving the puck well. They jumped on us in the third period and we couldn't get a break to stop it.
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"It's going to bump them up on us in the sections."
Tyler Bredeson scored with 2:39 left in the first period to give Willmar a 1-0 lead. Paul Schrupp netted the last goal for Willmar with 12 seconds left in the second period.
Fergus Falls 5, Willmar 4
Fer. Falls (7-5-1, 10-7-3)...0 1 3 1 -- 5
Willmar (5-7, 11-9)............1 3 0 0 -- 4
FIRST PERIOD - Wil: Tyler Bredeson (Grant Schow, Gabe Amon) 14:21
SECOND PERIOD - Wil: Amon (Grant Kallevig, Jake Tone) pp, :34 ... Wil: Amon (Tone, Schow) pp, 9:50 ... FF: Adam Heifort (Lucas Gervais) 10:54 ... Wil: Paul Schrupp (Tone) pp, 16:48
THIRD PERIOD - FF: Cody Briese (Austin Glas, Michael Hallisey) 3:56 ... FF: Gervais (Nick Kangas) 6:35 ... FF: Trevor Larson (Heiforf) 7:39
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OVERTIME - FF: Hallisey (Heiforf, Derek Kinder) :15
GOALIE SAVES - Fergus Falls: Austin Carr 15 ... Willmar: Ben Leitch 23
Late results Thursday
Wright County
Litchfield/DC 4, Delano/Rockford 2
The Dragons knocked off conference co-leader Delano/Rockford thanks to two goals from Nate Adams, three assists from Quinn Impola and 29 saves from Bryce Johnson.
Del./Rockford (6-2, 13-7)......0 1 1 -- 2
Litchfield/DC (3-5, 11-7).......0 3 1 -- 4
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FIRST PERIOD - no scoring
SECOND PERIOD - LDC: Chase Danielson (Brice Ryynanen) 2:07 ... LDC: Nate Adams (Andy Haataja, Quinn Impola) 8:40 ... LDC: John Raisanen (Ryynanen, Impola) 12:02 ... DR: Dillon McLain (Jack Emmer) 13:17
THIRD PERIOD - DR: Tyler Heinonen (Bobby Emmer, McLain) pp, 8:19 ... LDC: Adams (Jeff Janckila, Impola) pp, 12:22
GOALIE SAVES - Delano/Rockford: Jason Dzurik 33 ... Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato: Bryce Johnson 29
Southwest
Redwood Valley 4, Sleepy Eye 1
Keenan Hartman scored twice for the Cardinal and Jordan Skeie and Nick Verdoes had two assists each. John Rebstock recorded 14 saves.
Sleepy Eye (1-7, 1-17)..........0 0 1 -- 1
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Red. Valley (10-1, 16-2)........2 1 1 -- 4
FIRST PERIOD - RV: Eric Hanson (Eric Miller) 10:26 ... RV: Keenan Hartman (Jordan Skeie, Brennen Sandgren) 11:37
SECOND PERIOD - RV: Colin Bailey (Brett Amberg, Nick Verdoes) 11:10
THIRD PERIOD - SE: Tyler Braulick (Brady Gluth, Josh Kopacek) pp, :13 ... RV: Hartman (Verdoes, Skeie) 10:26
GOALIE SAVES - Sleepy Eye: Kyle Jones 35 ... Redwood Valley: John Rebstock 14
