Click the AUDIO button to hear from Flivvers captain Will Murvich.
IRON MOUNTAIN---The Kingsford Flivvers overcame a great goaltending performance by Jackson Goudreau Tuesday night to beat the Manistique Emeralds, 2-0, in the MHSAA Division Three regional tournament opener at the Mountain View Ice Arena. Goudreau made 44 saves, but Will Murvich and Paolo Lenzi managed to score on him to allow the Flivvers to advance to the regional semifinals.
“We played them last week, and he put up just about that many saves,” Murvich told RRN Sports after the game. “So, we've had struggles scoring against him. Scoring one early was nice to get the fellas going. All it was was a loose puck in front of the net. I went for it and chipped it in.”
The goal came just 1:31 into the game, and there was a scrum in the goal crease after the goal was scored, and the Flivvers ended up with a five-minute power play. Kingsford did not score on that power play, but Murvich thinks it was a factor in the game.
“We had a lot of offensive time, and we wore them down, I like to think,” he said.
Lenzi's goal in the second period came at the 2:35 mark, and that was it for the offense, mostly because of Goodreau in the Manistique net. Kingsford outshot Manistique, 19-2, in the first period, and 20-4 in the second period, but Goodreau gave his team a chance.
The Emeralds got a power play late in the second period, and another in the third period, but could not muster much offense. Nate Scullon stopped all 12 shots he faced for the shutout as the Flivvers improved to 12-13-0 on the season. Manistique finished 3-20-1.
Now, the Flivvers get ready for a regional semifinal showdown against conference champion Marquette (17-7-3), this Friday night, at Marquette's Lakeview Arena. The Flivvers beat the Sentinels in a stunner, 2-1, back in December.
“I think we've just got to go out there and work hard, all three periods,” Murvich said. “We've got to get our third line going, first line going. We've just got to keep the pedal to the metal. I mean, we played hard against them last time, so I think if we play that same way, I think we'll do all right.”
The other regional semifinal on Friday will see Sault Ste. Marie (9-19-0) visit Escanaba (17-9-1). The Soo beat Negaunee, 5-2, Tuesday night, scoring three times in the third period. Two of the goals were on the power play. Cole Gordon scored twice for the Soo, while Cash Karvonen and Nolan O'Dovero scored for Negaunee in a losing effort.
The regional championship game is scheduled for Feb. 25 in Marquette.
