Smoke and Mirrors

Dec 12, 2015

By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com

Richfield, MN – The Minotauros dominated at even strength for the second weekend in a row, however for the second weekend in a row disastrous special teams play lead to the Tauros being sweptby a team below them in the standings.  Last weekend the Bobcats converted on six of their 12 power play opportunities in sweeping the Tauros; this weekend the Magicians converted on four of 10 in doing the same.

Friday night (full box) the Magicians got out to a two goal lead on a pair of power play strikes.  Late in the second period however Christian Mohs (6g 14a) got the Tauros even with an even strength marker followed by a shorthanded score.  Early in the third the Tauros took a 3-2 lead when Tyler Jeanson (4g 11a) finished a play that started behind the Magicians net after Mohs and Zack Bross (4g 7a) won battles below the goal line and fed him the puck in front.  The Tauros would lead until the final six minutes of the game when the Magicians would rattle off four more goals (one into the empty net) to turn a 3-2 lead into a 6-3 deficit for the final.

Saturday night (full box) the first period passed scoreless but again the Tauros would fall behind again in the second.  This time the Magicians would get out to a 3-0 lead by 7:27 of the middle frame.  The Jeanson, Mohs, and Bross line would start the comeback again however as the trio combined on a passing play that Bross finished for his fourth of the season to make it 3-1 headed into the third.  Nate Pionk (2g 2a) scored a controversial goal early in the third on a play that appeared to be offside but the goal stood and the Tauros pulled within one.  The Tauros continued to pressure but a late power play goal for the Magicians pushed the lead back to two.  Austin Martinsen (9g 7a)  answered back just over a minute later but the Tauros could not find the equalizer and fell by a 4-3 final despite outshooting the Magicians 42-26.

Next up the Tauros will host the Bismarck Bobcats on Friday for the annual Teddy Bear Toss Night.  Fans are encouraged to bring a gently used stuffed animal to the game and when the Tauros score throw it onto the ice.  The stuffed animals will be donated to the Minot Police Department and Minot Domestic Violence Crisis Center to be used to comfort children during difficult times in their lives.  Last season the Tauros fans donated over 250 stuffed animals.  Tickets for Friday night’s game are available by clicking the “Tickets” tab atop this page.