by: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
The VFW Sports Center in Bismarck has been a traditionally tough place to play for visiting teams. Since the Minotauros entered the league in 2011-2012 season the Bobcats are 49-12-8 at home, including a 1-13-0 record against the Tauros in North Dakota’s capital city. The Tauros one win in Bismarck came on Thanksgiving Day last season in a 5-4 shootout victory. Tauros captain and three year vet, Tim Donohue missed that game with an injury and had never won in Bismarck, that is until last night.
Just 2:18 into the game Donohue scored on a shot from the high slot giving the Tauros a 1-0 lead. For Donohue it was his fifth of the season, Kristian Nagy and Max Pernhem were credited with assists. Halfway through the period the Bobcats drew even when Tony German scored on the rush converting a cross-ice pass from Joonas Huovinen.
The Bobcats would take a 2-1 lead early in the second period when Evan Giesler beat Brandon Wildung on a play started by a long up ice pass by Bobcat goalie Scott Albertoni that set up a 2-on-1 rush. Alexander Kasitsyn drew the Tauros even when he put home a Wes Iverson rebound from just to the right side of the net.
Then with the Tauros already on a man advantage Huba Sekesi tripped Jadin Martin off the draw. Then as he was being escorted to the penalty box Sekesi speared Kyle Kruenegel who was skating towards the Tauros bench. It took only 0:14 into the 5-on-3 for the Tauros to strike. Jon Lizotte fired a quick snap shot from the left point that beat Albertoni.
The Tauros were unable to strike in the remaing 5:46 of power play time from Sekesi’s penalties leaving the door open for the Bobcats to draw even, which is exactly what they did. Stanislav Dzakhov fired a rebound past Wildung at 13:29 of the third to tie the game at three. That score would hold through regulation despite each side getting a power play opportunity after the score was evened.
The Tauros carried the play in the extra session outshooting the Bobcats 4-1 in overtime. Then with less than a minute remaining Martin carried up ice and fired a shot off Albertoni’s pads, Donohue one-timed the rebound past the Bismarck goaltender and the Tauros won 4-3 in overtime.
Next up the Tauros take their four game winning streak up against Aberdeen in a home set this Friday and Saturday nights. Fans who bring a canned food donation for KHRT Horn of Plenty will receive $2.00 off of admission. Also Coors Light and Morelli’s Distributing will be providing $1.00 8oz. cans of Coors Light while supplies last in the Landing Bar and Bottle Shop Bullpen.