|
Weekend Recap 10/30-10/31 vs. Watertown Shamrocks In the first meeting of the season with the Watertown Shamrocks, the Minot Minotauros split the road weekend with a 4-1 win on Friday and a 4-2 loss on Saturday. The Tauros’ win streak reached five games before the defeat, and the Tauros now sit 12-3-0 (24 points) with a one point lead over Bismarck for first place in the Central Division. Friday Game Recap The road trip got off to a fast start for the Tauros with a blue line goal from Alex Schwarz just 53 seconds into the game. The goal was Schwarz’ first of the season and his first in a Tauros uniform. Shots were aplenty for both sides in the 1st period, but Schwarz’ goal held as the only one for a 1-0 Minot lead. Early in the 2nd, Jasper Inkinen had the puck on the left wing 2-on-1 into the attacking zone and his shot pass rebounded to Thomas Lahtinen for a tap-in to make it 2-0 Minot. Then, with around eight minutes left in the 2nd, Brady Zugec cleaned up a bouncing puck that was cycled through Mario Fate and Philip Wiklund for his first goal in his first game back with the Tauros. His finish made it 3-0 Minot despite the Tauros being outshot. It stayed 3-0 for the vast majority of the 3rd period with Watertown getting some good looks, but none of them were able to finish. Philip Wiklund tucked in a goal in the final three minutes to make it 4-0, and while Lukas Hoglind was standing on his head having no goals against opposite a high shot volume, Watertown found the back of the net in the final minute to spoil the shutout and force the final score of 4-1. Hoglind did stop 39 of 40 shots, which is the most saves in a game by a Tauros goaltender this season. Like it has been for a while now, the Tauros set franchise history for the fastest to 12 wins, and exiting the game Friday, they had the best point percentage in the NAHL. Saturday Game Recap Another open ice game ensued on Halloween night with another high shot volume contest. Minot got on the board first with five minutes left in the opening period on a Shawn Swavely tap in off a nice centering pass from Briggs Knott. Just 55 seconds into the 2nd period, Minot extended its lead on a nice passing play off a 3-on-2 rush. Lucca Ori sent a pass cross ice to Briggs Knott, and Knott put it back into the slot for an easy Ivan Sidorov goal to make it 2-0. Midway through the 2nd, the Tauros had a power play opportunity to go up three goals in similar fashion to Friday night, but the stifling Shamrocks penalty kill (which is among the best in the NAHL) killed off the penalty and gained some key momentum. They scored off a Tauros defensive zone turnover. The shot from Jordan Brothers hit the top of Ryan Bodnar’s glove and fluttered into the net. Two minutes later, a long shot from outside the far circle squeaked through Bodnar’s five-hole to tie the game 2-2. With the Tauros on their heels, they survived a flurry of chances at the end of the 2nd, but the momentum in the building was fiercely with Watertown. The Shamrocks rode the energy wave into the 3rd period, and they took advantage of another defensive zone turnover for Minot, scoring to make it 3-2 for their first lead of the weekend. Cody Campbell pulled Ryan Bodnar after the goal with about 18 minutes left in regulation. Just a few minutes later, however, Lukas Hoglind came out of his crease to try and break up an offensive zone rush, but his poke check missed and Watertown’s Justin Obrochta slid it in for a 4-2 Watertown lead. The Tauros would get two more power play opportunities in the game, both of them resulting in some great chances, but Watertown weathered the storm of shots and walked out with a 4-2 win, snapping the Tauros’ five-game winning streak. The Minotauros have an off week for the first weekend in November, then they return to action at home at The Maysa for Military Appreciation Weekend on November 13th and 14th at 7:35pm CT as they take on the St. Cloud Norsemen. Get your tickets today at tickets.minotauroshockey.com or on the Tauros Hockey Mobile App. |
