Minot, ND – The Minotauros earned a weekend split in St. Cloud this weekend bouncing back from a rough Friday loss to win on Saturday. The weekend split combined with Austin sweeping Aberdeen moves the Tauros into third place in the Central.
Friday night the Tauros never got going getting outshot 16-5 in the first period but finished the frame even 0-0 thanks in large part to Carter Clafton stopping all 16 shots he saw. The Norsemen however eventually broke through in the second scoring three goals with Blake Perbix, Brandon Lajoie, and Nik Hong scoring as they outshot the Tauros 19-6 in the middle frame. Brandon Lajoie pushed it to 4-0 early in the third Ben Johnson started a comeback effort for the Tauros netting a power play goal and Trevor Stachowiak added another power play marker just a few minutes later to cut it to 4-2. Unfortunately for the Tauros the Norsemen found two more late to push it a 6-2 final.
Saturday night the Tauros bounced back in a big way. After Ethan Lindahl opened the scoring the Tauros rattled off three in a row before the horn. Nikolai Charchenko scored to tie it less than a minute after Lindahl scored with a blast from the blue line. Jaksen Panzer got his fourth of the season 23 seconds later to give the Tauros the lead. Blake Arneson pushed the lead to 3-1 with a bouncer from the point that snuck by Ethan Dahlmeir. Panzer got his second of the night early in the third but Lajoie scored to keep it at a two goal game going into the third. Stachowiak push the lead back to three 1:24 into the third but the Norsemen would outshoot the Tauros 23-4 in the period and push back to within one but Zack Sandy stood tall through their final push making 52 saves overall to hang on for the win.
Next up for the Tauros the Aberdeen Wings come to town for Thursday/Saturday series. Thursday night’s game starts at 7:05 and Saturday at 4:05. Tickets for both games are available at here.