WAUSAU, Wis. – The Rochester Grizzlies continued their late-season surge, splitting a weekend series with rival Wausau to improve to 8-2-0 in their last ten games and clinch home-ice advantage for Round 1 of the Fraser Cup Playoffs.
Shorthanded Friday night due to three suspensions stemming from Game 2 against St. Louis, Rochester delivered one of its most complete efforts of the season.
It began with a dominant opening period, as Marty Raymond’s squad outshot the Cyclones 17-4 and carried a 1-0 lead into the intermission after Mason Decker threaded a slick feed to Brett Ludvigsen for the game’s first goal.
Decker’s two-assist night moves him within five points of Vladislav Sorokin’s franchise-record 69-point season set in 2018–19.
Wausau found more of its footing in the second period, but Benjamin O’Leary buried a rush chance for his second goal in black and gold to double the lead. Just 60 seconds later, Felix Wadstromer continued his torrid February stretch, netting his 18th of the season to give Rochester firm control.
The Cyclones had their opportunities, earning three power plays to Rochester’s one, but Nick Kurtiak was sharp throughout, turning aside 34 of 35 shots in a season-best performance.
Wadstromer added his second of the night on the power play in the third to put the finishing touches on the win, while a late Wausau goal spoiled Kurtiak’s shutout bid.
February has belonged to the Grizzlies, who have outscored opponents 41-17 during the month and dropped just one contest as the regular season winds down.
With Friday’s complete 60-minute effort, Rochester locked up second place in the Central Division and all but securing a first-round postseason date with Wausau on home ice in two weeks.
Saturday’s rematch was a different story.
Wausau controlled play early and jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the opening period. Any hopes of a Rochester push in the second were derailed by penalties, as the Grizzlies were whistled for nine infractions in a chaotic frame that featured 16 combined penalties.
Kurtiak stood tall for as long as he could, but midway through the period, the Cyclones capitalized on the man advantage to extend their lead and effectively put the game out of reach.
The third period brought more of the same physical, penalty-filled intensity, perhaps a preview of what’s to come when the two sides meet again in the playoffs.
Trenton Fore recorded his 42nd point of the season with a power-play goal, becoming the Grizzlies’ all-time single-season scoring leader among defensemen, surpassing the mark set by Matthew Haun during the 2023–24 campaign.
All but one goal in the contest came on the power play, and the rivals combined for 77 penalty minutes in a fiery showdown.
With the split, the season series finishes even at 4-4. However, Rochester holds the goal-differential tiebreaker, securing home-ice advantage for what now feels like an inevitable first-round playoff clash, with just one week remaining in the regular season.