A hard fought see-saw battle ended with the Minnesota Wilderness gaining its first point of the 2023-24 season, but could not secure the victory as it fell to the New Jersey Titans, 5-4 in overtime.
Dominic Rivelli scored the deciding goal 19 seconds into the extra frame, on a goal that also secured a hat trick for the veteran forward.
The Titans scored the game’s first goal on a power play, when Rivelli fired in his first of the game 7:38 into the first period.
The Wilderness responded quickly with two goals. The first came from Oliver Band, when he fired in a rebound of a Colten Nestler shot 1:18 after the squad fell behind for his first goal of the season. That was followed by Peteris Purmalis getting his first of the year when he one-timed a pass from Oliver Stümpel into the back of the net to put the Wilderness in the lead for the first time in 2023-24 at 11:22 of period 1.
That lead lasted into the 2nd period, and was relinquished when Rivelli scored his second of the game at 7:12, and former Wilderness Jack Hillier followed with his first of the season at 14:43.
In the 3rd period, an extended power play allowed Minnesota to even the score once again. Stümpel notched his second of the season just after a 2-man advantage expired that included one 5-minute major penalty. That goal at the 7:27 mark was the first with the man-advantage on the campaign for the Wilderness on its fourth chance of the game, and 11th of the season.
A goal by Ethan Wongus gave the lead back to the Titans with 7:09 left in regulation time, but the Wilderness again rallied to tie thanks to Logan Nagle knocking in a rebound with 3:12 left to play. Nagle’s tally was his first of the season, and was assisted by Brandt Dubey.
The game then finished with New Jersey’s overtime heroics, which came without Minnesota gaining puck possession in the extra frame.
Loris Uberti suffered the loss in net, stopping 20 of 25 shots. His record falls to 0-1-1.
Zakari Brice earned the win for New Jersey, as he turned aside of 20 of 24 Wilderness shots.
Both teams finished 1 for 4 with the man-advantage.
The Wilderness will continue seeking their first win on a quick turnaround. Their second game of the 2023 NAHL Showcase comes Thursday at 5:00 p.m. vs. the Amarillo Wranglers.