The Mason City Toros were shut out for the second time this season in a 4-0 loss to the Granite City Lumberjacks in Game 1 of the West Division Finals on Friday night at the Armadillo Deck Sports Arena.
Granite City scored twice in a 1:33 span midway through the first period to capture early momentum in the game. They added another goal in the second period and an empty-netter in the third to pick up a series-opening victory and put the Toros’ season on the brink.
The Lumberjacks’ shutout victory marked the first time in this rivalry matchup that they shut out the Toros this season. Mason City had not been shut out in over two months prior to Friday’s loss with their only scoreless effort coming on Jan. 4 at the Willmar WarHawks.
Game 2 of the West Division Finals is Saturday at 2:30 p.m. A Toros’ victory extends it to a winner-move-on Game 3 on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Granite City. A Lumberjacks’ victory ends Mason City’s season and advances Granite City to the Fraser Cup Championship Tournament next week.
