Wolverines take series 2-1 from Butte

A four-goal lead turned out to be just enough for the Wolverines on Sunday afternoon at the Stumptown Ice Den.

Whitefish used a first-period goal by Brett Fernandez and a pair of second-period goals by Chris Cutshall and another by Ian Wiens to take what appeared to be a commanding 4-0 lead over the Butte Cobras in the decisive third game of the best-of three Western States Hockey League playoffs.

But Butte had other ideas.

The Cobras scored three goals in the final period, but failed to net another to force overtime in losing 4-3. That gave Whitefish the series 2-1.

Cutshall also had a hand in the first score, assisting on the goal by Fernandez.

Whitefish advances in Northwest Division postseason action to play a best of three series at the Idaho Junior Steelheads. Games Friday and Saturday are at 7 p.m. and if necessary, Sunday at 4 p.m. in McCall, Idaho.

Game 1

Butte 0 0 2 — 2

Whitefish 2 0 2 — 4

First period—1, Whitefish, Aleksei Garin (Bryan Polmear, Riley Ingalls), 18:30. 2, Whitefish, Nathan Luznar-Purdy (Ian Wiens, Richard Mulligan), 18:43.

Second period—none.

Third period—3, Whitefish, Chris Cutshall (Brett Fernandez, Garin), 1:09. 1, Butte, Anton Zimmer (Bogdan Shleev, Zach Steuck), 6:48. 2, Butte, Shleev (Steuck, Justin Keener), 18:06. 4, Whitefish, Kieffer Helbing (Cutshall, Fernandez), 18:28.

Shots on Goal—Butte 6-11-12—29. Whitefish 13-10-12—35. Power-play opportunities—Butte 0 for 6. Whitefish 0 for 3. Goalies—Butte, Justin Keener (35 shots- 31 saves). Whitefish, Brendan Schultz (29-27). T—2:40. A—300.

Game 2

Butte 2 2 1 — 5

Whitefish 0 1 1 — 2

First period — 1, Butte, Chadd Lounder (Danny Armstrong, Nick Wrobel), 17:00. 2, Butte, Anton Zimmer (Jacob Rudloff, Bogdan Shleev), 17:15.

Second period — 1, Whitefish, Brett Fernandez (Kieffer Helbing, Richard Mulligan), 7:19. 3, Butte, PJ Silveria (Morgan Reiner, Zach Steuck), 15:15. 4, Butte, Jacob Rudloff (Anton Zimmer, Zach Steuck), 16:41.

Third period — 2, Whitefish, Josh Schur (Danny Roe, Tyler Latimer) 10:48. 5, Butte, Anton Zimmer (Morgan Reiner, Zach Steuck), 11:35.

Shots on Goal — Butte 18-19-15—52. Whitefish 11-8-7—26. Power-play opportunities — Butte 0 for 3. Whitefish 0 for 2. Goalies — Butte, Tage Rustgi (26 shots-24 saves). Whitefish, Brendan Duff (52-47). T — 2:35. A — 450.

Butte 0 0 3 — 3

Whitefish 1 3 0 — 4

Period 1 Whitefish — Brett Fernandez (Kieffer Helbing, Chris Cutshall), 2:53

Period 2 Whitefish — Cutshall (short handed, unassisted), 2:28, Whitefish — Cutshall (Richard Mulligan, Aleksei Garin), 9:31, Whitefish — Ian Wiens (Nathan Luznar-Purdy, Kristian Evans), 10:16

Period 3 Butte — Anton Zimmer (Derick Brehm, Jacob Rudloff), 0:23, Butte — Nikita Polishchuk (Dzmitry Daniliuk, Brock Solomon), 6:33, Butte Cobras — Anton Zimmer (Bogdan Shleev, Rudloff), 7:11

Shots on goal — Butte 11-14-11—36; Whitefish 12-18-9—39; Goalie saves — Butte 35 (Tage Rustgi), Whitefish 33 (Brendan Schultz); Power plays — Butte 0-6, Whitefish 0-3; Penalty minutes — Butte 16, Whitefish 22; Attendance — 225; Time — 3:30.