CLOQUET, MN – The Bruins didn’t lead until 4:02 of overtime, but that was all they needed to earn two points and snap a four game losing streak as they topped the Minnesota Wilderness on the road, 5-4 on Friday night at Northwoods Credit Union Arena.
The Bruins trailed 2-0 after the first, allowing goals to Ryan Peterson and Dylan Mills despite outshooting the Wilderness 12-10. Peterson took advantage of a Paul O’Connor misplay near the point and finished a breakaway at 8:06 to open the scoring. Mills’ goal was a goal-mouth tap-in on a power play at 16:10 to make it 2-0.
In the 2nd, the Bruins used a pair of power plays to get even. Recently returned defenseman Paul O’Connor scored at 9:13 to put the Bruins on the board, blasting a shot from the point. Captain Travis Kothenbeutel followed at 10:32 to tie it, even though it took an official conference to confirm the goal. Kothenbeutel found Wilderness netminder Trevor Micucci out of position out of a cross-crease pass from Justin Misiak and tucked one just over the goal line that was confirmed after a lengthy consultation. The Wilderness scored their second power play goal to get the lead back at 13:05, a Tyler Vold high slot shot that Alex Schilling never saw slide past his stick side. 36 seconds later, Jan Stefka finished off a Cole Lawrence wraparound attempt to tie it again, before Dylan Mills’ 2nd goal of the night at 18:21 would give the Wilderness a 4-3 lead entering the third.
Despite 17 third period shots, Micucci kept the Wilderness ahead through 17:39, until Stefka banged home his second goal of the game right on the doorstep of another power play chance. Misiak and Charlie Spetz helped set it up.
After four minutes of scoreless OT, AJ Drobot ended the game when Micucci misplayed the puck below the goal line and couldn’t retreat back into the net in time. The Bruins pelted 53 shots on goal, while Schilling stopped 37 of 41 to earn the win.
The Bruins and Wilderness finish their home and home on Saturday night at Riverside Arena. Game time is 7:05.
