WILLMAR, Minn. – The Grizzlies have come a long way from the season opening game against Granite City. That game took place three weeks ago and saw Rochester lost 10-0. Since then, the Grizzlies haven’t lost and improved their win streak to six after a 7-1 victory on the road over the Willmar Warhawks.
Goalie Nick Bucklin would get his second straight start against Willmar and he would get offensive support rather quick. Vladislav Sorokin would continue to hold the hot stick for the Grizzlies (6-1-0-0, 12 pts) as he opened the scoring just 45 seconds into the game. The Grizzlies would not let up in the period, as Caden Duggan would tally his fourth goal of the year to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead.
Sorokin would score two more goals in the first period, completing the hat trick. The goals would come 30 seconds apart from one another. This would be the second hat trick in as many nights for Sorokin.
The second period would see more goals come Rochester’s way. Oskar Stahl would deposit his first with the Grizzlies at the 4:18 mark of the second. Stahl played his first game with Rochester yesterday after playing two games with the Austin Bruins of the NAHL to start the season.
Seth Bacon would extend the lead to 6-0 for the Grizzlies with an unassisted power play goal coming with just one second left on the power play. Willmar would get one on the board as Jacob Berkowitz scored his fourth of the year, making it a 6-1 Grizzlies lead at the 14:19 mark of the second. Peyton Hart would score an unassisted goal late in the period, making it 7-1 Rochester.
Neither team would score a goal in the third. Bucklin would earn his third victory of the year and the second straight win over Willmar. This is also the third win for Bucklin in the last four games the Grizzlies have played.
Rochester is on the road Friday taking on the Breezy Point North Stars for the first time this season. That game is set for a 7:30 start time. Rochester and Breezy Point will play the next night in Rochester, the 13th, with a 7:05 puck drop.