Minot, ND – The Minotauros host the Austin Bruins this weekend for the final two meetings between the clubs who are tied for third in the NAHL Central Division. The last time these teams met in Austin in early January they were battling for first place each taking turns as the top team in the division. Since then both have struggled but remain firmly in the playoff picture despite falling behind St. Cloud and Aberdeen.
The Tauros have bounced back from a dismal 1-7-0 January with a 4-3-1 February earning weekend splits each weekend last month. With just 12 games left on the schedule the Tauros have fewer games remaining than anyone else in the division which puts points at a premium down the stretch. Goals will also while the Tauros have outscored the Bruins 31-23 over the 10 meetings this year they scored just one goal in getting swept by Austin in the last weekend set between the teams.
The Bruins meanwhile had some momentum after sweeping the Tauros the first weekend of January. They won three of their next four games but after that run they have gone 1-8-1 over their last 10 scoring just 2.40 goals per game in that stretch.
Dean Schwenninger leads all scorers in the head-to-head series with Austin with four goals and four assists. Zack Simon has played some of his best hockey against the Bruins as well scoring five of his 16 goals on the season against them. The Bruins offense has been driven by the duo of Sutter Muzzatti and Nick Catalano who have seven points each.
In goal Zack Sandy has been his usual rock solid backstop for the Tauros against the Bruins posting a .935 SV% and 4-1-0 record. Klayton Knapp has played similarly well for the Bruins against the Tauros with a 2-2-0 record and .931 SV%.
This weekend the Tauros will be debuting their Magic City jerseys which pay tribute to the many people and things that make Minot magical. Saturday night there will also be a Sports Shaq Tauros trading card strip giveaway. Puck drop for both games is at 7:35 on the Pepsi Rink at Maysa Arena. Tickets are available through the “Tickets” tab atop this page or by visiting tickets.minotauroshockey.com.