The Rochester Grizzlies have swept the season series over the Minnesota Loons after Saturday’s 8-0 victory at home, thanks to a Sam Johnson hat trick. The win also marks four in a row for the Grizzlies, who maintain control of first place in the West Division. While idle Friday, Rochester also clinched a playoff spot, the first team in the West to do so.
Maksim Lakic started the scoring for the home team at 8:14 of the first, carrying the puck to the top of the slot and beating Dixon Ehlers high over the blocker. Just about two minutes later, Sam Johnson finished off his first of the night off a perfect pass from Luke Sawicky to make it 2-0.
Rochester found the back of the net twice again in the second period. After killing off the first penalty in a five-on-three, Spencer Klotz led a two-on-one with Noah Joyce, who finished off the play by tallying another shorthanded goal against the Loons. in the waning second of the period, Leo Milan’s point shot rattled around in front before being knocked home by Johnson for his second of the game. The goal came with less than a second left in the period.
The Grizzlies scored two quick goals to start the third. Lennard Habeck fired home a wrist shot post and in just 1:45 into the period. At the 4:37 mark, Andrew Bastian knocked home a great pass by Lakic to make it 6-0. Wyatt Witham made it 7-0 at 9:05 while Johnson completed his hat trick with 37 seconds left to make it 8-0.
Riley Swanson stopped all 10 shots he saw for a shutout, the first of his Juniors career. The Grizzlies how have 54 points at first place in the Central Division. Sunday’s puck drop from the Rochester Recreation Center is at 5pm against the Mason City Toros.