Minot, ND – For the second weekend in a row the Tauros opened a weekend series with a Friday win and took a two-goal lead on Saturday only to walk away with three of a possible four points on the weekend. Despite the disappointing finish to the weekend, the Tauros still have earned at least a point in every game played and with six points through four games sit in second just two points behind the Aberdeen Wings.
On Friday night the Tauros jumped out to an early lead when Joseph Harguindeguy scored just before the seven minute mark of the first. The goal, his first of the year, gave Harguindeguy points in each of the Tauros first three games.. Damon Zimmer doubled the Tauro lead with his second of the year six minutes later. The Wilderness fought back however with Mitch Allard finding a loose puck in the slot and solving Keenan Rancier late in the period to pull Minnesota within one. Then early in the second Christian Galatz tapped in a feed from Hunter Young to tie the game. Zach Kilen scored his first as a Tauro with just over a minute left in the period though to restore the Tauro lead heading into the third. From there Rancier shut down the Wilderness and Harguindeguy eventually added an empty netter to secure the win.
On Saturday night the Tauros again jumped out to a lead Isaac Keller and Harguindeguy scored less than two minutes apart in the first to make 2-0 Tauros less than 15 minutes into the contest. A late shorthanded goal for the Wilderness by Gunnar Thoreson however again had it 2-1 after 20 minutes. The Wilderness struck twice more in the middle frame with Allard at even strength and Ethan Wolthers scoring on the power play. Zimmer scored his second of the weekend to tie the game again in the middle of the second and the teams would head to the third tied at 3-3. Moments after a Hunter Bjorge goal was waived off Dane Stoyanoff scored on a long shot that changed direction multiple times bouncing off of bodies before sneaking past A.J. Ruskowski. Late in the game with the Tauro net empty Zimmer got his second of the night to force overtime but Dominkis Marcinkevics found the game winner for the Wilderness.
Next up for the Tauros the St. Cloud Norsemen come to Minot. They enter the series coming off of a weekend off. They opened the season with a tough trip to Aberdeen in which they were swept first 4-1 and then 10-0 by the Wings. Tickets for both games are still available by clicking the “Tickets” tab atop this page or by clicking here.