Do It Again

Dec 3, 2014

By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com

Brookings, SD – Fresh off of a 6-2 victory in Brookings last Saturday night the Tauros look to extend their point streak to five games as they head back to South Dakota again tonight.  At 10-2-1 away from the Maysa Arena the Tauros hold the best road record in the NAHL, while Brookings is 4-6-3 at home.

The Tauros offense is clicking right now getting goals from three different lines last Saturday as well as having both Jon Lizotte and Casey Johnson tied for fourth in goals among NAHL defensemen.  Blake Lizotte sits third in the league with 31 points on the season and Christian Mohs is just one point out of the top ten with 26.  Johnny Walker, who skates on a line with Lizotte and Mohs, had a hat trick against the Blizzard last Saturday.

While Brookings lacks the scoring depth of the Tauros, their top line of Beau Michaud (8g, 19a), Zach Glienke (10g, 13a), and Joe Anderson (7g, 2a) can be very dangerous.  The trio has combined for seven points in three games against the Tauros including Michaud and Glienke setting up Anderson for a goal that gave the Blizzard a 2-1 lead last Saturday.  In net Ryan Kubic came on in relief for the third period Saturday night and stopped seven of eight shots; he had started the previous three games and posted by far the best numbers of any Brookings goalie this season.

For the Tauros tonight’s trip marks the last time the Tauros leave North Dakota until January 9th when they head to Austin.  After tonight the Tauros finish December with four home games starting Saturday against the Bobcats and two trips to Bismarck later in the month.  A continued stretch of good play helped by a light travel schedule provides the Tauros with a chance to go on a prolonged run and possible gain some breathing room atop the Central Division.