Otters Win on Isaac Johnson's Overtime Goal
Ben Swanson turned aside 41 shots in the Fergus Falls net, Cole Zierden netted a goal and dished out a playmaker (3 assists), and Isaac Johnson had a flair for the dramatic as he scored the game tying goal with 4:15 remaining in the third period and got the game winner 36 seconds into overtime on Thursday night as the Fergus Falls boys’ hockey team defeated St. Cloud Tech/Apollo, 5-4.
Isaac Johnson Prepares to Release the Game Winning Shot. PHOTO by MELISSA BABOLIAN
Connor Pajari scored the first goal of the night at 11:54 of the first period to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Theo Rieland assisted on the goal.
St. Cloud took a 2-0 lead at 11:02 of the second period when Rieland assisted on a goal by Max Rud. Cole Zierden found the back of the net at 13:32 to get the Otters on the board, assisted by Isaac Johnson.
St. Cloud made it 3-1 just 22 seconds into the third period on a power play goal by Cory Warner, assisted by Isaac Baker. Isaac Young, from Michael DeBrito and Carter Thielke at 3:19, and Matthew Niblock from Zierden at 5:18 pulled the Otters into a 3-3 tie. It didn’t last long though as Nick Matanich scored from Andrew Cumming and Warner at 5:51, giving St. Cloud the lead back at 4-3. Zierden then assisted on Isaac Johnson’s game tying goal at 12:45 and the Otters forced overtime.
The extra session was over quickly as Zierden and Niblock assisted on Isaac Johnson’s game winner 36 seconds in.
“This was a fast, tough hockey game,” commented Fergus Falls Head Coach Mike Donaghue. “We kept crawling back into it. Ben was really solid in goal and I thought the defensive play of Colton Partain and Andrew Johnson really helped give us a chance to win. Isaac Johnson did a great job taking his time with the puck in the high slot and making sure he put it in the net.”
Fergus Falls (5-1) has won five straight games. They will go to Willmar next Thursday for another Central Lakes Conference contest.
