By Andrew Lennox, www.minotauroshockey.com
Bismarck, N.D. – The Minot Minotauros are NAHL’s Central Division champion after beating the Bismarck Bobcats 3-1 in Game 4 of the division finals in North Dakota’s state capital on Saturday.
After a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 3, Minot bounced back, scoring first In Game 4 with 1:14 left in the opening frame. Nick Sewecke, on the power play, was credited with the first marker as he deflected a Nick O’Hanisian shot from the point, beating Bobcat’s goalie Klayton Knapp. With the goal, Sewecke continues to lead the NAHL postseason in points with seven goals and four assists in seven games.
Bismarck knotted the score at 1-1 4:56 into the middle frame, with defenseman Jake Peterson notched his first postseason goal. Landon Fandel and Patrick Johnson provided the assists. However, before intermission, captain Trevor Stachowiak recaptured the lead for the Tauros, scoring with the man advantage for his third goal of the playoffs. Cayden Casey and Weston Knox collected the assists.
Carrying a 2-1 advantage into the final 20 minutes, Minot would soon make it 3-1 when John Small launched a rocket from the high slot, beating Knapp’s blocker side on the ice 5:26 into the period. Cayden Casey grabbed his second helper of the evening while Colby Woogk logged the secondary assist. Knapp was pulled in favor of an extra attacker with 2:05 left, but the Bobcats continued to struggle offensively and were outshot 15-6 in the last period of the series.
With the 3-1 victory, Minot hoisted their second Central Cup in franchise history and secured their spot in the Robertson Cup Semi-Finals, which will start next weekend in Blaine, Minnesota.
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