Ryan Knight stopped 30-of-31 shots and the Mason City Toros (3-0-0-0) defeated the Granite City Lumberjacks (4-1-0-0), 2-1, on Friday night at Armadillo Deck Sports Arena.
Mason City went into the third period up one goal but spent the bulk of the period on the defensive, but they held firm to remain undefeated. The Lumberjacks outshot the Toros 18-2 in the period and 31-19 on the game, despite Mason City outshooting Granite City in the first and second period.
Mason City’s penalty kill came up big, killing all four Granite City power play chances and scoring one shorthanded goal. Carter Newpower got the Toros on the scoreboard first at 10:54 in the first while the Lumberjacks had a man advantage. It marked his team-high fourth goal of the season and the third time in as many games that he scored in the first period.
Jack Campion gave Mason City a 2-0 lead in the second when Brendan Sloth set him up in the slot and Campion wristed it past goaltender Quentin Sigurdson.
Knight became the third different player in between the pipes in as many games this season and turned in the finest performance for a Mason City goaltender to this point. His biggest save of the night came with 5:19 to go in regulation when he denied Tucker Skime on a breakaway.
The Toros are the only undefeated team remaining in the NA3HL West Division and look to take both games this weekend against Granite City when they face them again at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night.
