OLIVER PAIPOONGE – It’s been more than two months since the Kam River Fighting Walleye have suffered the taste of defeat.
Max Wright ensured the streak stayed alive, scoring three times on Monday night to power the defending Superior International Junior Hockey League champions to a 5-2 Game 2 win over the visiting Red Lake Miners.
Kam River, winners now of 21 straight, lead the best-of-seven semifinal 2-0.
Red Lake took a 1-0 lead in the first, Andrew Sikora notching his first of the postseason, but Wirght, who failed to score in the Fighting Walleye’s first five games, took matters into his own hands early in the second, beating Ethan Neitsch 75 seconds into the middle frame to tie the game 1-1.
Just over three minutes later Wright added his second of the night, the second of three straight Kam River scored in the period.
Ryan Daponte added his fourth of the playoffs at 13:43 to give the home side a 3-1 lead, though Luke DeCorby did get one back for Red Lake, the No. 5 seed entering the playoffs, and the Miners trailed 3-2 after two.
Wright and Carter Nailen helped the Fighting Walleye pull away in the third.
Ashton Sadaukas racked up 28 saves to earn the win in nets for Kam River. Ethan Neitsch face 47 shots in the Red Lake net, stopping 42 of them.
Game 3 goes Wednesday night in Red Lake.
