BUFFALO - Matt Casperson and Adam Fischer each scored twice to lead the No. 5-seeded Brainerd Warriors past the No. 4 Buffalo Bison 5-2 in the Section 8-2A quarterfinals Tuesday night.
The Warriors started slow getting outshot 18-3 in the opening period and trailed 1-0 before Casperson put in the equalizer at 7:56 of the second with assists from Josh Howieson and Landon Rivard.
Ted Nelson put Brainerd ahead for good at 12:26 of the first.
Casperson and Fischer expanded the Warrior lead with unassisted goals to start the third before Jerame Schuetzle countered for Buffalo with his second tally of the game.
Fischer put the icing on the cake with a power-play goal at 9:02 with assists credited to Tory Miller and Howieson.
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Buffalo finished the game with a 37-18 shots-on-goal advantage but Warrior goalie Brady Mick was able to reject 35 shots.
The Warriors play at top-seeded Bemidji in the semifinals at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Lumberjacks ousted No. 8 Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake 6-0 Tuesday.
Buffalo 1 0 1 - 2
Brainerd 0 2 3 - 5
First period: Buf-Jerame Schuetzle (Tom Rooney) 13:52
Second period: Brd-Matt Casperson (Josh Howieson, Landon Rivard) 7:56; Brd-Ted Nelson 12:26
Third period: Brd-Casperson 1:42; Brd-Adam Fischer 6:39; Buf-Schuetzle (Jake Ramsey) 7:45; Brd-Fischer (Tori Miller, Howieson) ppg 9:02
Shots on goal: Brd 3 9 6 - 18, Buf 18 11 9 - 38
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Goalies: Brd-Brady Mick (36 saves); Buf-Ben Zitur ( saves)
Overall: Brd 9-16-1. Next: Brainerd at No. 1 Bemidji in Section 8-2A semifinals 7 p.m. Saturday.
