Extra Extra

Dec 8, 2012

By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com

 

Aberdeen, SD – The Tauros continue to dominate in shootouts extending their record to 6-0 in the penalty shot competition.  The shootout seemed a fitting end to a game that saw the Tauros and the Aberdeen Wings even in goals at three a side and 48-47 shot total after overtime. 

Jake Clifford celebrated his 18th birthday with style opening the scoring just 5:24 into the game when he threw a puck from along the goalline that snuck through Wings goaltender Marcus Zelzer.  The difficult angle shot was Clifford’s first goal of the season.  The rest of the period passed scoreless despite the teams taking 32 combined shots on goal.

The Tauros struck again early in the second when Jake O’Borsky poked home Zach Holstrom’s rebound making it 2-0 Tauros.  Justin Parizek got the Wings on the board at 6:39 but just over a minute later Mason Morelli scored from the blue line on the powerplay to push the Tauros’ lead back to two.  A Peter Krieger goal followed by Parizek’s second of the night came just sixteen second apart and tied the game at three.    

The third period passed without a goal despite another combined 28 shots on goal sending the game into overtime.  The open ice certainly was not going to slow down the offense and the teams traded four more shots a side.  In the shootout David Parottino and Steven Sherman both beat Zelzer to the blocker side while Holstrom and Matt Audette were stopped trying to go five-hole.  It did not matter however as Tyler Parks stopped all four Aberdeen shooters that he saw to give the Tauros the win. 

The game was one of the more contentious of the season for the Tauros with a fight in each of the periods.  Chance Creger got the better of Jake Horton in the first and Wesley Iverson won his fight with Tanner Holmquist in the third, while Clifford and Tommy Miller never really got going during their fight in the second. 

Tyler Parks did not wait until the shootout to make his mark on the game.  He stopped 45 of the 48 shots he saw leading into the shootout including several highlight reel saves.  Mid way through the first after a rebound got past him Parks reached behind himself and gloved it out of midair to keep the Wings off of the board. 

Three Stars of the Weekend:

            1st Star: Tyler Parks, 1-1-0 73 saves on 78 shots.

            2nd Star: Jake Clifford, 1 goal +1

            3rd Star: Zach Holstrom, 1 assist +2

Next Up: The Tauros return home to take on the Bismarck Bobcats on Friday and Saturday nights.  Both games start at 7:35 p.m. CST and tickets are available by clicking on the “tickets” tab atop this page.  Saturday night’s game is sponsored by Trinity Health and will feature a teddy bear toss.