By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Richfield, MN – The Minotauros pulled back into a tie atop the NAHL Central Division with a sweep of the Minnesota Magicians. The Tauros offense broke out with 10 goals and the defense held the Magicians to five goals on just 44 shots as the Tauros played their most complete series since the NAHL’s Christmas break.
Friday night (full box) the Tauros struck first when Steve Mather (3g 3a) tapped in a loose puck on a net-mouth scramble late in the first period. A pair of second period goals by the Magicians however had the Tauros trailing 2-1 going into the final period. In danger of losing for the first time when scoring first the Tauros instead controlled the play and drew even when Tyler Jeanson (6g 16a) finished a one-timer into an open side of the net. Just 1:32 after Jeanson scored Troy Degler (5g 9a) finished another pretty passing play with linemates Johnny Walker (17g 20a) and Max Reisinger (7g 16a) to give the Tauros a 3-2 lead. Reisinger hit the empty net in the final seconds to give the Tauros the 4-2 win in front of Jon Flakne (2.78gaa .892sv%).
Saturday night (full box) saw the Magicians strike early when Travis Brown (7g 10a) fired a shot from the point through traffic and over Lucas Murray’s (2.83gaa .887sv%) blocker. The Tauros struck back however with late goals from Reisinger and Austin Martinsen (13g 8a) to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. For the second night in a row the second period belonged to the Magicians who scored the period’s only goal on the power play. One again though the Tauros used a big third period to get with win. Degler and Walker scored to get the Tauros a 4-2 lead. Late in the period Jared Brandt (1g 15a) was whistled for a high stick and the Tauros went to the kill. The Magicians pulled Will Ulrich (2.88gaa .915sv%) for the extra attacker for a six-on-four advantage. The Tauros won the draw however and Zack Bross (8g 13a) hit the empty net to push the lead to 5-2. The Magicians would cash in on the power play to pull back within two before taking a penalty of their own. With the Magicians net again empty and the Tauros on the power play Walker hit the empty net to make the final 6-3.
Next up for the Tauros is another set of four games with a team outside of playoff position, the Aberdeen Wings. The series starts with two games in Aberdeen on Friday and Saturday night before shifting to Minot for a pair on February 5th and 6th.