Rough Start

Jan 15, 2015

By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com

 

Aberdeen, SD – The Minotauros weekend got off to a rough start on Thursday night as the Tauros fell 5-2 to the Bismarck Bobcats.  The loss was the Tauros first regulation loss since December 6th also a home loss to the Bobcats.  Now the Tauros attention turns to the Aberdeen Wings for a pair of road games. 

The Tauros won both games they have played at the Odde Ice Center this season, each win came by just one goal.  Aberdeen’s defensive style has successfully stymied the Tauros usually potent offense holding the Tauros to just 2.57 goals per game, compared to 3.33 goals per game against everyone else.  Blake Lizotte (10g 30a) and Christian Mohs (12g 26a) have faired the best against the Wings, each having two goals and three assists against Aberdeen this season.  With an assist last night Lizotte tied Jake O’Borsky for the most points in a season by a Tauro, he is also the first Tauro to have 30 assists in a season. 

While the Wings have limited the Tauros scoring, the Tauros have held the Wings to 20.14 shots per game and just 1.86 goals per meeting.  Atte Tolvanen (18-8-3 2.03gaa .921sv%) has been particularly strong against the Wings stopping 60 of 63 in three games.  Tanner Holmes (6-1-1 1.86gaa .912sv%) has four of his eight games on the season against the Wings and he has gone 3-0-1 against them allowing just 1.96 goals per game. 

The Wings offense against the Tauros has been lead by Michael Soucier (12g 12a) who has three goals and two assists in just five of the seven meetings with the Tauros.  Aberdeen’s leading scorer Kyle Haak (8g 21a) has be held to five assists and a -4 rating against the Tauros on the season. 

For the Tauros a win Friday night would tie the NAHL record for consecutive road wins currently held by the 2008-09 Topeka Roadrunners; in a sweep of the Wings would set a new NAHL record.  Both games will be streamed on fasthockey.com; for live updates follow the Tauros on Twitter @MinotauroHockey.