by: Sean Williams, gotauros.com
Austin, Minn. – Another weekend, another situation where the Minotauros keep climbing the Central Division standings. Coming off a weekend where they picked up five out of a possible six points, the Tauros enter the week with a 5-2-1 record (17 points) and have moved up into second place in the division. The schedule, however, will not get any easier.
Up next is a date with the only team above the Tauors currently, the Austin Bruins, who own a 6-2-1 record and 19 points in 12 games played. Although this is a new year and both teams look different, the last time the Bruins and Tauros met was during the Robertson Cup Playoffs last year when the Bruins swept the Tauros in the opening round.
Bringing similarities to the first matchup this year, both the Bruins and Tauros have a 7-2-1 record over their last 10 games and both enter play coming off a win. They remain close in goals differential as well, with Austin at a +7 (33 goals for, 26 goals against) and Minot at a +9 (30 goals for, 21 goals against).
It’s no secret that goaltending has been a bright spot and has been a key ingredient to the recent success of the Tauros. Over the last five games, the tandem of James Norton and Brady James in net have allowed one goal or less in four of those games. The 21 goals allowed in 11 games still stands as the best in the Central Division and looks even better now that the Tauros have gotten closer to the opposition in amount of games played this year.
James’ performance is standing out in a sample much larger than the Central Division, though. Among goalies in the NAHL who have played in more than one game, James and his 1.17 GAA ranks second best and his .933 save percentage is fifth best in the NAHL. In the sweep of St. Cloud last weekend, James stopped 41 of 42 shots he faced.
However, his outstanding weekend was recognized as the best in the division as well. On Monday, it was announced that James was named the NAHL Central Division Star of the Week. James follows in Jack O’Hanisain’s footsteps with this recognition marking consecutive weeks where a Tauro has won a weekly award.