Senior's late goal gives Moose win over Mustangs

PALMER — Throughout the 2015-16 season, the Palmer Moose have not hesitated to keep things interesting.

Tuesday night, the Moose found another way to win in dramatic fashion.

Senior Chris Dojka scored with eight seconds left in the third period to give the Moose a 5-4 win over the Chugiak Mustangs at the MTA Events Center in Palmer.

Dojka capped a final Palmer rush with a backhander that beat Chugiak goalie Ian Bernard. Dojka scored twice in the game to help Palmer push its winning streak to four games.

Darren Fish also scored a pair of goals for Palmer. Nathaniel Savel and Noah Keil added a goal each in the victory.

Palmer had to overcome Chugiak’s big second period and a barrage of shots during the first two frames to get the win. Chugiak outshot Palmer 19-7 during the first period and had a combined 34 shots in the first two periods. The Mustangs trailed 1-0 after the first period, but took a 3-2 advantage into the third period after getting second-period goals from Nicholas Perez, Daniel Casey and Andrew Beckett.

The Moose jumped back into the game in the third period, outshooting the Mustangs 10-4 during the final frame. Dojka scored the first of his two goals to help Palmer tie the game at 3, less than three minutes into the third period. Keil scored less than three minutes later to push Palmer’s lead to 4-3.

After the Palmer rally, Zack Krajnik scored the game-tying goal with 4:03 left in regulation.

Palmer goalie Cody Grogan made 34 saves in the win. Bernard stopped 24 shots in the loss.

Palmer returns to North Star Conference play to host Colony Friday at 7 p.m. in Palmer.

Palmer 5, Chugiak 4

Tuesday, MTA Events Center

First period — 1. Palmer- Fish (Foster, Savel) 14:36.

Second period — 2. Palmer- Savel (Fish) 13:33; 3. Chugiak- Perez (Curfman, Lindberg) 13:15; 4. Chugiak- Casey (Krajnik, Hammer) 8:39; 5. Chugiak- Beckett (unassisted) 3:57.

Third period — 6. Palmer- Dojka (Fish, Meyers) 12:56; 7. Palmer- Keil (Ropka, Dietz) 9:37; 8. Chugiak- Krajnik (Plucinski, Beckett) 4:03; 9. Palmer- Dojka (Meyers) 0:08.

Shots on goal: Chugiak 19-15-4—38, Palmer 7-12-10—29; Saves: Chugiak- Bernard 9-12-3—24, Palmer- Grogan 6-11-7—34.

Wolverines edge Warriors

WASILLA — Sparked by a pair of first-period goals, South Anchorage edged Wasilla 4-3 Tuesday at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla.

Alex Engan, Russell Harren and Austin Stephens tallied goals for Wasilla.