Big second lifts Moose past Stars

PALMER — Sometimes an explanation for success is fairly simple.

“Today, we came out and played as a team,” Palmer junior Ivan Good said after his team’s 4-2 win over the Soldotna Stars at the MTA Palmer Ice Arena on Saturday. “We just skated as a team.”

The Moose three times in the second period of the win, Palmer’s third North Star Conference victory in as many days. Following a scoreless first period, Good, Trey Garrod and Dalton Buness each scored second-period goals to help the Moose open up the game during the middle frame.

“I thought we had some nice chances in the third, but we were able to convert in the second,” Palmer head coach Brad Hanson said. “Gain a little cushion.”

Jack Reeves also scored for Palmer.

Garrod, who also helped set up a pair of Palmer goals, gave the Moose a lead with a shot from the point just inside the second period. Midway through the second, Good scored on the power play to give Palmer the two-goal lead. Later in the period, Buness added to that advantage with a shorthanded tally.

Buness capped a Palmer odd-man rush by using the back of the blade of his stick to beat Soldotna goalie Dawson Pearson.

“It was a great goal,” Hanson said. “A good finish by Buness.”

Stephen Acher created a Palmer 2-on-1 when he picked up a loose puck in transition. With both players skating deep into the Soldotna zone, Acher sent a quick pass to Buness, who buried the puck.

“He made a nice dish,” Good said. “Acher’s dishing the puck. He’s not really scoring right now, but he’s doing the things he should.”

Soldotna skated into the second intermission scoreless, but was able to get on the scoreboard early in the third. Forward Dalton Pearson won the opening face-off of the third period and poked the puck into the Palmer zone. Pearson chased down the puck to create a breakaway opportunity, and used a quick shot to score Soldotna’s first goal of the game.

Matt Fellman added a late power-play goal for the Stars.

Freshman Ashton Good, who recorded a 16-save shutout during a 2-0 win over the Homer Mariners on Friday, stopped 25 shots in the win. Dawson Pearson recorded 26 saves for Soldotna.

Palmer 4, Soldotna 2

Saturday, MTA Palmer Ice Arena

First period — no scoring.

Second period — 1. Palmer- Garrod (Staskywicz) 12:01; 2. Palmer- I. Good (Garrod, J. Reeves) pp 7:34; 3. Palmer- Buness (Acher) sh 2:24.

Third period — 4. Soldotna- Dal. Pearson (unassisted) 14:44; 5. Palmer- J. Reeves (Garrod) PP 4:39; 6. Soldotna- Fellman (Stone, Kerkvliet) pp 0:20.

Shots on goal: Soldotna 6-9-12—27, Palmer 10-8-12—30; Saves: Soldotna- Daw. Pearson 10-5-11—26, Palmer- A. Good 6-9-10—25.