International Falls has won three of four; No. 3 Hermantown looms today
Christian Kittelson led a hot start Thursday for International Falls in a 4-2 win over Eveleth-Gilbert at Bronco Arena.
The junior, playing in just his fifth game after breaking his thumb before the season, scored back-to-back power-play goals to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead early in the second period.
“I was just in the right spot at the right time and got my stick on the puck,” said Kittelson, who parks in front of the net on power plays.
Joel Skirten tallied the first goal for the Broncos, also on the power play, and Alex Bruess made it 4-0 with 12:40 left in the second period. The four goals came on only nine shots. Lucas DeBenedet had two assists and Skirten assisted on Bruess’s goal for a two-point night.
“Finally got the power play going,” Kittelson said. “We just found ways to score. That’s the main thing.”
The Broncos power play collapsed on Tuesday and surrendered two short-handed goals in a physical 4-3 win over Fort Frances. The penalties kept coming Thursday as the Broncos were whistled for nine infractions to the Golden Bears’ eight. However, Eveleth-Gilbert couldn’t take advantage, even with the Broncos struggling after building a 4-0 lead.
“That’s the thing we’re not doing right now — capitalizing on opportunities,” Golden Bears head coach Todd Kreibich said.
Kreibich pulled goalie Jesse Schilling after allowing the four goals on nine shots, and fellow senior Logan Koskela shut down the Broncos the rest of the way, stopping 19 shots.
Kreibich praised Broncos netminder Glenn Walls, who picked up another 4-2 victory over the Golden Bears with 31 saves. Walls made 24 saves in a 4-2 victory back on Dec. 7.
“Everyone has a bad night,” Kreibich said of Schilling. “Unfortunately for him he had a tough go of it.”
Kreibich also thought the Broncos (4-7-1) had a tough go of it against his squad, which is 7-4 and boasts 19 seniors.
“I truly thought we outplayed them tonight,” the fourth-year coach said.
Dalton Johnson scored late in the second and Kyle Niemi scored early in the third as the Golden Bears mounted a comeback. Walls was able to shut the door too many times, however.
“I think we got a little too confident,” Kittelson said. “We let up a little and we can’t do that. We gotta play three full periods.”
The Golden Bears outshot the Broncos 33-28, similar to when they outshot them as visitors 26-24 on Dec. 7.
“That’s two wins for the Falls they should feel lucky they came away with,” Kreibich said. “I truly believe we outplayed them.”
I. Falls 4, Eveleth-Gilbert 2
EG 0 1 1—2
IF 2 2 0—4
First period — IF, Joel Skirten (Michael Bounds, Lucas DeBenedet), PP, 2:16; IF, Christian Kittelson (Nick Anderson, Brett Musich), PP, 11:58.
Second period — IF, Kittelson (DeBenedet, Skirten), PP, :25; IF, Alex Bruess (Michael Misner, Derek White), 4:20; EG, Dalton Johnson (Peter Deloria, Cole Axelson), 5:13.
Third period — EG, Kyle Niemi, 1:32.
Goalies — EG, Jesse Schilling, 5 saves; Logan Koskela (4:20 2nd period), 19 saves; IF, Glenn Walls, 31 saves.
