Weekend Preview 3-24-23

Mar 24, 2023

Mason City,  IA – The Minotauros sit three points behind the Aberdeen Wings for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division with eight games remaining on the schedule.  While the Tauros will face the Wings in Aberdeen next weekend they have a chance to close the gap this weekend if they can avenge the recent weekend sweep at the hands of the North Iowa Bulls.

The Bulls have been stampeding of late winning five in a row and eight of their last ten to climb from the Division basement to second place behind Austin.  Goaltending has been the key for the Bulls as Mitch Day has owned the net of late starting 14 of North Iowa’s last 15 games winning 10 of them.  He stopped 76 of 81 shots in the Bulls’ weekend sweep of the Tauros two weeks ago.

For the Tauros the story has become a feast or famine offense.  Over the last ten games the Tauros have gone 4-6-0, in the four wins the Tauros have a combine 17 goals, in the six losses just a total of 11.  If the Tauros are going to battle their way back into the playoff picture more consistent offense is going to be a key.

Strangely, as the Tauros head to North Iowa this weekend home ice has not been kind to either team historically in this matchup.  The Tauros are just 2-6-0 against North Iowa at the Maysa including the Bulls weekend sweep two weeks ago; but the Tauros are 4-2-0 in Mason City all-time.

As always fans will be able to tune into the games on the Minotauros Network.  The game can be watched on HockeyTV or fans can listen to free audio broadcasts on the Tauros Facebook page, Mixlr, gotauros.com, or in the Tauros Hockey App.  The Farmers Union Pregame show will start at 6:55 p.m., 15 minutes before puck drop.