NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – Alex Berardinelli played hero again on Friday night as the Brahmas topped the Topeka RoadRunners by a score of 3-2.
Quinn Preston of Topeka was the most noted name in the first period, beginning with a head contact major penalty just one minute into the game. The Brahmas power play was unsuccessful and after the Michigan native exited the box, he struck for the only goal of the first.
In the second period Martin Mellberg hooked up with his fellow Swede Johan Lundgren for a back door goal that was largely fanned on to even the game. Friday’s game was the first since Lundgren’s acquisition that the two were not on the same line, and the goal came on four-on-four ice incidentally.
The score remained knotted until the 11:28 mark in the third, but that’s when Tomas Brejcha buried one top-shelf off of a terrific feed from Cam Clarke. The goal extends both Brejcha and Clarke’s point streaks to five games. Not even three minutes later though, Topeka set the score back to square when Sami Tavernier caught Corbin Kaczperski leaning off of his post.
However, with just over five minutes remaining, the dazzling skill of Alex Berardinelli came to play once again. While taking a RoadRunner one-on-one to the net, the Pennsylvania boy dangled from outside in and flung a backhander past Juho Niku, sending the NYTEX crowd into a roar.
Berardinelli’s goal was the sixth game-winner of the season, something only three men have done more than him for their team this season.
Corbin Kaczperski earns his 19th win of the season in net; stopping 18 of 20 sent his way.
Tomorrow night the two teams will battle again, starting at 7:30. It’s Kids Night at NYTEX Sports Centre, so bring the young one’s out for some intense action!