In a game that was far closer than the final score indicated, the Marauders rode a stunning goaltending performance from Paul Kojder to a decisive 5-0 shutout victory over the Hudson Northstars. Kojder faced a relentless 31-shot barrage, turning aside every single one to earn his clean sheet and backstop his team’s undefeated streak. While the Northstars matched the Marauders in intensity, the difference was simple: the Marauders capitalized on their chances, while Kojder made sure no Northstar shot found the back of the net. The Marauders opened the scoring late in the first period when Denis Crotty (#25) fired home a feed from Aaron Lawson (#68) at the 3:05 mark, sending his team to the intermission with a 1-0 lead.
The second period belonged entirely to the Marauders, as they exploded for four goals to completely take control of the game. Mike Esopenko (#13) scored twice in the period, first at 7:55 on a nice setup from Ron Pohar (#10) and Paul Kojder (#27), and then again on the power play at 2:18, converting passes from Denis Crotty and Peter Verseveldt (#44). The power-play opportunity came after a body contact penalty on Elan Giga (#14) of the Northstars, and the Marauders made him pay. Aaron Lawson got in on the act at 4:52 with a goal assisted by Lane Golden (#6), and Denis Crotty capped off the period’s scoring at 2:06 with his second of the game, with Esopenko and Pohar earning assists again. The Marauders jumped out to a commanding 5-0 lead, despite being outshot 14-9 in the period, thanks to Kojder’s brilliance.
The third period settled into a chippy affair, with both teams exchanging slashing penalties—Brad Cote (#21) of the Marauders and Lucas Hazlett (#22) of the Northstars both sitting for two minutes. Despite the Northstars’ desperate push, they could not solve Kojder, who shut the door with 17 saves in the final frame alone. The Marauders’ defense tightened, and the Northstars were left to lament their missed opportunities. The final shot tally was 31-34 in favor of the Marauders, but the story was Kojder’s extraordinary performance. With the win, the Marauders continue to prove themselves as a force, while the Northstars will need to find a way to finish their chances if they hope to rebound from this tough loss.