AUSTIN, MN – The Bruins scored first, but gave up three consecutive goals in an eventual 3-1 loss to the Brookings Blizzard on Friday night at Riverside Arena. Brookings won for their first time in Austin in over a year and kept their slim playoff hopes alive.
Zach Kennedy opened the scoring early, sneaking a puck between the pads of Josh Kuehmichel at 3:41 of the opening period, working a rush with Jon Richards. Brookings got even just over five minutes later when Kane Durment crashed the net and tipped a puck past Kris Carlson. It was 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Brookings struck twice in the second period. Garrett Elmore ripped a one-timer past Carlson from Colton Schmidt and Mikael Hakkarainen at 7:04 to give the Blizzard their first lead. After back to back unsuccessfull powerplays for the Bruins, Brookings got an advantage of their own and Durment scored just six seconds in for his 2nd of the game and a 3-1 lead. The Bruins killed off a 5 on 3 against but trailed by two heading to the third.
Thr Bruins had 13 shots in the 3rd period but Kuehmichel shut the door for his 2nd win of the season against Austin. With the Magicians defeating Minot and Bismarck defeating Aberdeen, the Bruins magic number did not change. The Bruins are off Saturday before beginning a five game road trip at Richfield against the Magicians on Thursday.
