The Mora/Milaca Mustangs will travel to face the Northern Edge on Tuesday, January 7, at 7:00 PM at the East Bethel Ice Arena.
The Mustangs are coming off a tough 5-1 loss to Moose Lake Area and will be looking to bounce back. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Cam Wilken, Mora/Milaca has showcased an ability to compete in close games, with a balanced attack led by forwards Charlie Kritzeck and Mitchell Haase, who both have 9 goals this season.
Goaltender Konner Kahle has been a bright spot for the Mustangs, boasting a .914 save percentage and keeping his team in games despite facing heavy pressure. Power play has been mixed for Mora/Milaca, with a 23.9% power play and a 72.1% penalty kill. Improving on both fronts will be crucial against Northern Edge.
Key to Success: The Mustangs must establish their forecheck early and rely on Kahle to anchor the defense.
The Edge enters this game after a narrow 6-5 victory over Becker/Big Lake, which snapped a long losing streak. Coached by Eric Thompson, the team has struggled to find consistency, especially on defense, where they allow an average of 7.54 goals per game.
Offensively, Northern Edge relies on Ryan Troxell (5 goals, 6 points) and Riley Dufour (4 goals, 6 points) to generate scoring chances. However, their power play has been ineffective at just 10.5%. Goalie Gage Husby faces a significant workload every game and has a .838 save percentage, reflecting the team’s defensive struggles.
Key to Success: The Edge must tighten up defensively and capitalize on their chances against Mora/Milaca’s penalty kill.
This game pits Mora/Milaca’s structured defense against Northern Edge’s offense-first approach. The Mustangs’ goaltending and balanced attack give them the edge in what should be a close game.
Prediction: Mora/Milaca 4, Northern Edge 2.
