By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Aberdeen, SD – For the second game in a row the Tauros had to play extra time, unlike last Saturday the Tauros were able to earn the extra point. With the win the Tauros improved to 9-2-1 away from the Maysa Arena which is the best road record in the North American Hockey League.
The first period progressed slowly as the two teams felt each other out. Aberdeen lead in shots early but a late power play for the Tauros saw them take the lead in that category as Austin Swingle sat for head contact. After 20 minutes the Tauros lead 8-7 in shots but the game remained a scoreless tie.
The second period started out much the same as the first did, with a defensive struggle. However the Tauros were eventually able to open the game up controlling the puck and firing 18 shots on goal. Christian Mohs got the Tauros on the board with an assist from Blake Lizotte in the middle of the second period. Mohs fired a shot that Andrew Shortridge was able to get a piece of his glove on, but it was not enough as the puck continued into the net. For Mohs, the goal was his ninth of the season, breaking a four-way tie atop the team lead; Blake Lizotte’s assist was his 21st of the year and moved into a tie for third in the NAHL in scoring. Just 1:22 later Luke Davison fired a blast from the blue line that beat Shortridge to push the Tauros lead to 2-0. Victor Ostling scored on the power play at 13:59 to get the Wings on the board and cut the lead to 2-1 headed into the third.
Early in the third the Tauros caught a break as the net came free while the Wings had the puck with space in front. The teams then played a fairly even period until a scrum at the front of the net resulted in the Johnny Walker and Matt Sherman to the box, with Walker being given an extra minor. The Tauros killed the resulting power play and found Chase Springman coming out of the box for an odd man rush. Springman forced a pass and the Tauros were unable to get a shot on goal. The Tauros had to kill another late penalty when Rasmus Sorgardt was sent to the box for checking from behind, but were up to the task. However just more than a minute after the penalty expired the Wings drew even on a Tucker DeYoung goal on a shot from the right wing on the rush. The Tauros carried the play in overtime outshooting the Wings 7-1, and with 0:32 left to play Casey Johnson pinched down from the point, took a feed from John Snodgrass and beat Shortridge to get the Tauros the win.
Next up for the Tauros is a trip to Brookings to take on the Blizzard who lost in a shootout tonight to the Bismarck Bobcats. Saturday’s game will be the November Buffalo Wings and Rings Road Watch Party. Then next week the Tauros will again go to Brookings for a Thursday date with the Blizzard before returning home to host the Bismarck Bobcats on Saturday.