By Sean Williams, www.gotauros.com
Austin, Minn. – Things have changed, although only slightly, since the last time the Minot Minotauros and the Austin Bruins met on the ice. During the weekend of Nov. 10, the two Central Division squads were getting ready for a battle of the top two teams in the division standings. Since that weekend, the Tauros have held strong in first place with a record of 17-6-1 and 35 points, while the Bruins have gone on a small skid, and currently sit in third place with a record of 15-8-1 and 31 points on the year.
Recent trends brings some similarities to the matchup this weekend, with the Tauros holding a 4-3 record and the Bruins a 3-3 record since they last met. The Bruins, however, have won two straight heading into the weekend while the Tauros dropped the series finale with Aberdeen last Saturday for a split. During the stretch of six games, the Bruins are scoring 3.5 goals per game and allowing 3.8 per game. In the seven games played since they last saw the Bruins, the Tauros are scoring 3.7 goals per game and allowing 2.8 goals per game.
Through four games played against the Bruins this year, the season series has been very kind to the Minotauros. The team holds a 3-1 record against Austin, including a sweep at the Maysa Arena which was integral in helping the Tauros earn the top spot in the Central Division. In those four games, Minot is averaging 3 goals per game and allowing 2 per game as they look to keep up that positive trend against a tough team in Austin.
In the four games with Austin thus far, Minot has utilized eight different goal scorers, with Nicholas Sewecke, Trevor Stachowiak, and Colby Woogk all tallying multiple goals. Goaltender Brady James has been strong in net as well, making 74/80 saves in three games against the Bruins. James Norton carried the torch in his one start where he stopped 25/26 shots by the Bruins. Special teams has also been an important ingredient of success for the Minotauros against the Bruins. So far, the Minotauros have surrendered just four power-play goals, having killed off 18/22 penalties.
On the other end of the ice, the Bruins scoring has not been spread out quite as much, with five different players having scored at least one goal against the Tauros. Only Kaden Muir and Austin Salani have lit the lamp multiple times. In net, Trent Wiemken has stopped 100/110 shots faced and managed to put together a shutout in a 2-0 win on Oct. 28. With only four points separating these teams, the series once again will be prove to be an important one as both the Tauros and Bruins aim to make it back to the Robertson Cup Playoffs. Puck drop at Riverside Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.