Weekend Recap 12-5-21

Dec 5, 2021

Minot, ND – The Tauros got back to their winning Saturday ways with a 3-1 victory in Bismarck last night that pulled the Tauros into a three-way tie for first place.  The win was a strong response to the loss in Aberdeen last Saturday night that saw the Tauros five game come to an end and keeps the Tauros the hottest team in the Central Division at 7-3-0 over their last 10 games.

On this Saturday the Tauros weathered the early storm from the Bobcats getting outshot 8-4 in the game first 10 minutes but Zach Sandy held strong to keep the game scoreless.  At the 10:57 mark of the first Aiden VanRooyan was given a five minute major and game misconduct for a bad hit on Christian Kadolph; Ben Johnson was also given a roughing minor on the play for his response to the hit.  During the ensuing four-on-four Charlie Larson was called for a trip sending the Tauros to a four-on-three power play which eventually became a five on three once Johnson’s penalty expired.  While the Tauros could not score before Larson was released from the box they would make the most of time remaining on VanRooyan’s major.

First Cole Mickel scored 14:26 into the first on a shot from the top of the right circle that deflected off of Michael Neumeier at the left post and into the net.

 

The just 33 seconds with the Tauros still on the power play later Braydon Beahm would redirect a Trevor Stachowiak shot past Ben Behrens to make it 2-0 Tauros.

The Tauros would take that two goal lead into the intermission and hold it for most of the second period but the Cats would get a power play goal of their own late in the frame.  With Kadolph in the box Patrick Johnson rifled a shot past Sandy to cut the Tauro lead in half with just 3:21 remaining in the second.

The Cats would continue to push to draw even into the third, outshooting the Tauros 12-7 in the final frame but Sandy stood tall.  With just 1.5 seconds remaining Colby Joseph iced the game away hitting the Cats empty net to push the final to 3-1.

Next up for the Tauros is a return to Aberdeen for their second series in South Dakota in two weeks.  The Tauros split with the Wings last weekend winning 4-3 on Friday before falling 4-2 on Saturday.   The Wings will enter the weekend on a three game winning streak having swept the Austin Bruins with a pair of shutout victories 3-0 on Friday and 5-0 on Saturday.

After the weekend trip to Aberdeen the Tauros will return home to host the Bruins on December 17th and 18th.  The Saturday game will be the Tauros annual Teddy Bear Toss Game.  Fans who attend the game are encouraged to bring a new or gently used stuffed animal to throw to the ice after the Tauros first goal.  All fans can also support the Tauros Teddy Bear Toss partner organizations before the event by sponsoring a bear which also raises $10 for that organization, click here for details.