Bounce Back

Jan 28, 2019

Brookings, SD – The Minotauros rebounded from a Friday loss with a dominating win on Saturday to earn a split on the road against the Brookings Blizzard.  The split keeps the Tauros tied for third place in the Central Division heading into what should be the hardest stretch of the schedule for the Tauros with just two home games the entire month of February.

Friday night the Tauros carried the play for most of the first period getting several “grade-A” scoring chances but could not solve Brookings goaltender George McBey.  Just after it appeared Vice Marino had a sure goal taken away by a sprawling McBey former Tauro Ryan Green raced the other way and snuck one past Ben Garrity.  The Tauros second period effort failed to match that of the first managing just three shots on goal after killing a long five-on-three Brookings power play early in the period.  Late into the period the Blizzard broke through again when Bud Winter scored to make it 2-0 heading into the third.  Winter struck again just 1:52 into the third to seemingly put the game out of reach but the Tauros would fight back and make it close.  Brennan Couet scored his first of the season just under six minutes into the period but the Tauros could not strike again until the game’s final minute.  With the extra attacker on Keenan Lund scored his 14th of the season with just 20 seconds left, but the Blizzard would add an empty netter off the draw to restore their two goal lead for a 4-2 final.

Saturday the Tauros came out strong out shooting the Blizzard 12-4 but it was not until Nick Strom scored on the power play with just over five minutes left in the first that the Tauros got onto the board.   Justin Kelley added two more in the second period and the Tauros took a 3-0 advantage into the final period.  David Raisanen put the game out of reach 1:39 into the third off of a nice feed from Didrik Henbrant to make it 4-0.  The only remaining question was whether or not Nicholas Grabko could keep the Blizzard off the board and he did stopping all 26 shots on goal for his third shutout of the season.

Next up for the Tauros is a their only two home games during the month of February, this Friday and Saturday nights against the Blizzard on the Pepsi Rink at Maysa Arena.