Wisconsin forward Braydon Beahm positions himself near the net during a game against Minnesota last weekend in Cloquet, Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Windigo)

CLOQUET, Minn. — With a split over the weekend, the Wisconsin Windigo remained in first place in the North American Hockey League’s Midwest Division. The Windigo dropped the Friday night matchup with the Minnesota Wilderness, 2-1, but bounced back Saturday with a 4-1 win.

With the split, the Windigo are 32-12-3-3 overall, good for 70 points in 50 games. The Anchorage Wolverines sit in second place with 64 and have three games in hand. The Janesville Jets are also in second with 64 points and two games in hand.

“I would have liked to see us play with more urgency on Friday,” said Windigo coach Blake Hietala, a Houghton native and former Michigan Tech Huskies player. “We need to be harder to play against with important points on the line.”

After a scoreless first period Friday, the Wilderness got on the board first 9:52 into the second period.

Looking to answer, the Windigo did just that at 17:10 when forward Will Schumacher scored his 28th goal of the season. Forwards Tyler Grahme and Lucas Busch both assisted on the goal as Grahme stole the puck and moved it over to Busch, who found Schumacher below the right circle.

The game remained 1-1 until the game’s final moments, when the Wilderness found the net with just 11 seconds left.

Goaltender Linards Lipskis made 25 saves in the loss.

“Without playing our best game, we outshot them, and out-chanced them,” said Hietala. “We had an opportunity to clear the zone and push it to overtime, but we were a little soft on the puck, and then in front of the net. (Nick) Erickson was sharp in net for them.

“Schumacher demonstrated his shooting skills with another sharp angle goal. He’s easily one of the best shooters in the league.”

Looking for a bounce back performance on Saturday, the Windigo did not get off to a great start, despite controlling play. The Wilderness got on the board first just 5:25 in.

Forward Elliot Gulley evened things for the Windigo at 12:56 with a wrist shot. Michigan Tech recruit Quinne Disher picked up his eighth assist since being acquired by Wisconsin in January. Defenseman Mario DiMaggio also assisted on the goal.

Forward, and league leading scorer, Max Martin scored just 4:06 into the middle frame to give Wisconsin its first lead of the weekend while on the power play. Schumacher and defenseman Erick Comstock both assisted on the goal.

Comstock then scored his ninth of the season at 6:53 to extend the Windigo’s lead. Grahme and forward Everett Pietila earned assists on the second straight power play goal.

Looking for some insurance, the Windigo got it at 9:31 when defenseman Daniil Dolzhenko scored on a one-timer off a pass from Grahme. Martin also earned his 49th assist on the season.

Lipskis made 31 saves while earning his 18th win of the season.

“Saturday’s game was more of what I expect from us at this point in the season,” said Hietala. “We moved the puck, created scoring chances, and found the back of the net with some impressive shooting.”

Hietala was especially pleased with how his team’s depth chip in.

“It was great to see the balanced scoring and have guys like Gulley and Dolzhenko contribute the way they did,” he said. “We converted on a couple of power play opportunities after being stale on the PP on Friday.”

After Dolzhenko’s goal, the remainder of the second period turned rough as 12 penalties were whistled between the two squads.

“We suffered several cheap shots that resulted in injuries,” Hietala said. “That stuff has no place in this game. But when challenged, our guys responded and proved, as others have learned playing against us, we will not be pushed around.”

UP NEXT

The Windigo conclude their seven-game road trip, with a rare Thursday night game against the Chippewa Steel in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on March 7. The Windigo then return home to the Eagle River Sports Arena to face the Janesville Jets on Friday and Saturday. Both games are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Eastern time.