By Andrew Lennox www.minotauroshockey.com
Bismarck, N.D. – The Minot Minotauros escaped last weekend with a series split against the St. Cloud Norsemen. In a home-and-home series this weekend, Minot faced off against in-state rival the Bismarck Bobcats, who had won eight consecutive games.
Friday’s contest saw Bismarck jump to a 1-0 lead as a Tauro’s neutral zone turnover led to the Bobcats going on a 2-on-1. Kade Kohanski, carrying the puck, sniped bar down glove side on Minot’s goalie, Brady James, just 4:52 into the period. Bismarck added to their lead under three minutes later when Evan Hunter collected his 13th marker of this year’s campaign.
Neither team managed to score in the second stanza. Shots on goal in the middle frame were 14-5 in favor of the Tauros.
Into the final regulation period, the Bobcats struck on the power play at 10:58. Julian Beaumont collected his 15th marker while Jack O’Hanisian was in the penalty box for hooking. Unfortunately for the Tauros, they could not solve Bismarck’s goalie, Stephen Peck, for the rest of the evening. He made 32 saves to earn the 3-0 shutout.
On Saturday in Bismarck, the Tauros would be held scoreless for the fourth consecutive period as the opening frame ended tied 0-0.
Finally, Minot found the back of the net as Jack O’Hanisian dished to Joe Lehtinen from the side of the Bobcats cage. Lehtinen, parked in front of Klayton Knapp’s crease, would beat the tender for his 13th goal of the season late in the second period.
The next tally registered came at 5:52 of the final frame when a weird bounce off one of the linemen’s skate led to a shorthanded breakaway for Bismarck’s Tamas Toth, who then beat Tauros goalie Lucas Swedin to tie the game at 1-1. Despite a hard-fought period, both teams could not capitalize on some quality scoring chances, and the game needed overtime to decide a winner.
In overtime, Minot grabbed the 2-1 win, as John Emmons, on a 2-on-1 rush, found Nicholas Sewecke, who beat a sprawling Knapp as he fired the puck into the top half of the net. With the overtime win, the Tauros earned the weekend split.
Next up, the Tauros will be on the road against the St Cloud Norsemen. The series kicks off on Friday at the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex.