Bucs snap Ice win streak

The Des Moines Buccaneers ended the Indiana Ice's two-game win streak Friday night with a 4-3 victory over the Ice in Des Moines.

Des Moines scored three goals in 5:04 of the second period to turn a 2-1 Ice lead into a 4-2 deficit, and the Bucs were able to hold off an Ice charge in the third. The Bucs peppered Ice netminder Dalton Izyk with 27 shots in that game-turning second period, outshooting the Ice 27-7 in the frame and 47-40 for the game.

Each team had two power play goals as special teams factored in largely. The Ice were 2-for-6 on the power play, the Bucs 2-for-7. The Ice had four third-period power plays in a comeback attempt -- including a 6-on-3 in the final 23 seconds as Des Moines had two in the penalty box and Izyk was pulled for the extra attacker.

Anthony Greco and Gaspar Kopitar scored at even strength at 10:14 and 13:23 of the second, with Justin Hussar getting the first assist on each goal. Hussar also scored on the power play in the first period to tie the game at 1-1. Luke Voltin -- who started the year with the USNTDP -- scored the eventual game-winner on the power play at 15:18.


Defenseman Ryan Obuchowski scored twice for the Ice, both on the power play. He got the scoring started at 11:57 of the first, and then tried to get the Ice back into it with a shot at 8:19 of the third. Jacob Fallon had the first assist on both goals. Robert Polosello also scored for the Ice at 5:00 of the second from Christian Hilbrich.

At 25-11-5, the Ice are in a second-place tie with defending Clark Cup champ Dubuque in the USHL Eastern Conference. Green Bay (68 points) has a 13-point lead on the division. The Dragons' road trip will continue Saturday night with a game at Omaha.

Next weekend will feature back-to-back nights in Muskegon. The next home game will be March 9 vs. Youngstown.