Mike Fazio lifts Jr. Blues past Topeka in a wild thriller on Saturday

(Photo Credits go to Samie Nichols)

Less than 24 hours later following the teams five-goal loss on Friday night, Mike Fazio and his Springfield Jr. Blues responded in a big way as they defeated the Topeka Roadrunners 3 to 2 on Saturday night inside the Nelson Center in a North American Hockey League regular season contest.

With the scored tied up at two goals each with just 29 seconds remaining in regulation, Fazio lit up the lamp with the game-winning goal on a nice duo of passes coming from both Brett Skibba and Ryan Atkinson. The goal was Fazio's third game-winner on the season so far, and was his sixth of the season. It caused an eruption of happiness all around inside the Nellie -- but it lit a fire under the Roadrunners.

As the time expired and the horn sounded off on the Jr. Blues victory, things got nasty and vicious as an all-out brawl broke out. according to the statical summary on the NAHL's official website, the fight proved to be a combined 33 penalties related to fighting. The Jr. Blues recieved ten penalties for 75-minutes, while the Roadrunners conducted 23 penalties for 180 minutes. It was certainly one of the craziest endings that the North American Hockey League has seen in some time.

Springfield out-shot Topeka 22 to 21 for the game, and luckily enough that one goal proved to be the difference in the entire contest. The two teams combined to go 0 for 5 on the man-advantage on the night as the Roadrunners went 0-for-4 as a team -- making the Jr. Blues 0-for-1.

Topeka got off to the first lead of the game as Tyler Andrew scored on an assist from Sean Gaffney that proved as the only goal of the opening period. Springfield got to work though and scored two goals in the second period and took a 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission. Terry Leabo and Atkinson scored in a span of three minutes for the lead.

(Photo Credits go to Samie Nichols)

As it was scoreless in the third period through the first 14:59 though, Mick Bruce scored on an assist from Kyle Sharkley to tie the game up. This is what set up one of the most exciting finishes inside the Nellie in a long, long while. For a crowd compiled of 635 people, that place was rocking.

Ryan Kellenberger got the start in the net for Springfield and proved to be a game changer in this performance. As he picked up his first win in his last four starts, he saved 19 of 21 and picked up his fourth win in between the pipes for the season.

Mackenzie Sawyer got the loss for Topeka in the end as his record fell to 6-4-3. Sawyer saved 19 of 22 Jr. Blues shots and has now lost two of his last three starts.

The Jr. Blues picked up their 23rd and 24th points with this huge win and are now 11-15-2 through 28 games in 2012 and will be back at home inside the Nellie on both Friday and Saturday nights as they will be playing host to the Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings. Both games will have the puck dropping at 7:05 pm.

Official Game Scoring Summary
First-(TOP) Tyler Andrew (Sean Gaffney) 11:20
Second-(SPR) Terry Leabo (Mike Severson, Dallas Crum) 8:58; (SPR) Ryan Atkinson (Extra Attacker) (Brett Skibba, Jon Carkeek) 11:48
Third-(TOP) Mick Bruce (Kyle Sharkley) 14:59; (SPR) Mike Fazio (Brett Skibba, Ryan Atkinson) 19:31

Three Stars of the Game (Official from Stadium Box-Score)
1. Ryan Kellenberger (Springfield)
2. Mike Fazio (Springfield)
3. Brett Skibba (Springfield)

To view all of the photos of this insane Jr. Blues victory, click on the link. All photo credits go out to my photographer, Samie Nichols.