Wild splits Fresno series

FRESNO, Calif. - The Wenatchee Wild could not hold on to the early lead generated by Carl-Johan Sjogren (Tumba, Sweden) and went on to fall to the Fresno Monsters 2-1 Friday at Selland Arena in Fresno, Calif. Wenatchee, which defeated Fresno 6-0 Thursday, remained in second place in the West Division with 55 points despite the loss.

Wenatchee held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play on Sjogren's goal, which was scored with 8:01 remaining in the period. Sjogren was the last Wild player to touch the puck before it hit a Fresno player and found the back of the cage. Cody von Rueden (Northbrook, Ill.) and Shawn Pauly (Bellingham, Wash.) assisted. The assist was von Rueden's third in four games since joining the team last week.

The Monsters tied up the game, 1-1, at the 5:19 mark of the second stanza when Jordan Lovick tapped in a rebound off Lucas Whelen's shot from the point. Wild netminder Greg Lewis (Pittsburgh, Pa.) assured that the game remained tied at the second intermission when he stopped Monster forward Riley Borer on a breakaway late in the second period.

Derek Sutliff scored what would go as the game-winner at 8:14 of the third period when he knocked in a rebound off Ethan Scherer's shot from the blue line. Thomas Freeman also assisted.

Lewis made 24 saves on 26 shots. Fresno goaltender Tom Conlin stopped 20 of the 21 shots he faced to earn his second win over the Wild this season. Neither team was able to score a power-play goal. Wenatchee went 0-for-3 on the man-advantage while Fresno went 0-for-4.

The Wild (26-17-3) will be back on home ice next weekend for a 2-game series against the Dawson Creek Rage (Feb. 18-19). Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.