On the first day of the 2018 NAHL Showcase, the Topeka Pilots got off to a roaring start.
Topeka (3-1-0) got a timely overtime tally from returning forward Brendan Schultz, his second goal of the season, giving the Pilots a 4-3 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights at Schwan’s Super Rink.
Schultz’s goal came at 2:59 of the session, as he raced in on the left wing, beating goaltender Zach Stejskal with a wrist shot. Defenseman and team captain Brenden Rons grabbed the assist, his third of the season.
The Pilots dominated the overtime period, outshooting the Knights 5-1, prior to the game-winner.
Forward Dallas Tulik got Topeka on the board at 13:30 of the first, beating a Knights’ defender and ripping a shot past Stejskal for a 1-0 lead.
A tally by Wilkes/Barre Scranton at 17:13 evened the contest at one going into first intermission.
Forward Gabe Temple then put the Knights in the lead 37 seconds into the second period, a lead that held going into the third despite an even 9-9 shots on goal margin in the frame.
In the third, it was Tulik again at 9:09, pulling the game even at two.
Just minutes later, forward Zeke Zeier got into the act, scoring an even strength goal at 11:39 for a 3-2 Pilots lead. Forward Joel Brandinger and goaltender Sam Metcalf grabbed the assists on the well-executed play, beating the Knights on a line change.
Temple tied the score back up at three each at 13:23, which stood until overtime.
Topeka is back in action on at 2 p.m. on Thursday, facing the Minnesota Magicians, who also won Wednesday, defeating the Aberdeen Wings 3-0.