Bullfrogs Let Wetzel’s Stick Do the Talking

Todd Wetzel figured out a way to snap out of that sophomore jinx that has plagued him all season.

Wetzel came up with three goals, including the game-winner midway through the third quarter, to lead the Bullfrogs past the Vancouver VooDoo, 7-6, Sunday night in front of an announced crowd of 6,933 at the Pond, tying the Western Conference playoff series, 1-1.

The deciding game will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pond. The winner advances to the Murphy Cup finals against either St. Louis or Orlando. Orlando beat St. Louis, 14-4, Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. The Murphy Cup finals are expected to begin Thursday or Friday in either St. Louis or Orlando.

Wetzel was the Bullfrogs’ rookie of the year in 1995, scoring 40 goals.

But anything that can go wrong, has gone wrong in his second season. He scored only 21 goals during the regular season this year.

Back problems have plagued Wetzel the last few weeks. And after being blanked in Saturday’s 9-5 loss at Vancouver, Wetzel went into a shell. After Sunday’s game-winning performance, he refused to talk to reporters, saying that he had been “jinxed” by talking to them in the past. Later he said he just wanted to concentrate on a team effort and didn’t want to talk about himself.

Wetzel’s boycott drew some scoffs from teammates, but they were nonetheless happy to see his scoring touch return.

“He’s a gifted goal-scorer. He has a knack for finding the net,” Rick Judson said.

Goaltender Rob Laurie stopped 25 shots, including Jason Jennings’ shot just to the right of the Bullfrog crease with three seconds to play.

But Sunday night belonged to Wetzel, even if he wasn’t talking about it.

“He’s a goal-scorer and you want your goal-scorers to step up this time of year,” Coach Grant Sonier said. “Today he stepped up and that’s what you expect.”

Wetzel gave the Bullfrogs the lead for good, 6-5, with 5 minutes 27 seconds left in the third quarter and scored again about 1:30 later for a two-goal lead. Doug Ast cut the Bullfrogs’ lead to a goal with his second goal of the evening. Then it was up to Laurie. He stopped six shots in the fourth quarter and kept Vancouver scoreless over the last 15:52 of the game.

It marked the third time in four games this season the Bullfrogs have beaten Vancouver by a goal.

“These are two mirror teams,” VooDoo Coach David Cairns said. “Both teams force the other into mistakes and both capitalize on them. We’re both a couple of bend-but-don’t-break teams and I see more of that Tuesday night.”

Vancouver wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as Brent Thurston converted a pass from Ast into a goal with a little more than two minutes gone.

Glenn Stewart got the equalizer for the Bullfrogs with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter.

That’s when the Bullfrogs, just as they did Saturday night, sat back on their wheels.

Ast took advantage, feeding Doug McCarthy, who slapped the puck past Laurie with only 14 seconds left in the quarter.

McCarthy picked up a power-play goal two minutes into the second quarter to give Vancouver a 3-1 lead.

But the Bullfrogs didn’t concede the rest of the quarter. B.J. MacPherson scored a goal a minute later off a pass from Wetzel and the Bullfrogs were off on a four-goal run with goals from four players. Savo Mitrovic tied the score, 3-3. Wetzel and Judson also scored.

But the pesky VooDoo didn’t give up. Jennings cut the Bullfrog lead to one just before halftime and Ast tied the score, 5-5, in the third quarter.