Bruins Rally, Top Magicians in Shootout

Jan 28, 2018

AUSTIN, MN – After erasing a two goal deficit, the Bruins took a third period lead and ultimately edged out the Minnesota Magicians in a shootout on Sunday afternoon at Riverside Arena. The win was the second for the Bruins in less than 24 hours and pulled them within three points of first place Aberdeen.

The Bruins dictated time of possession in the opening period, but fell behind 1-0 when Carter Breitenfeldt scored a power play goal at 13:20 of the first. The Magicians power play made the Bruins pay again at 18:01 after Cameron Buhl got a fortunate bounce when a rebound caromed off the pad of Mads Sogaard and then the leg of a Bruins defenseman. The Magicians carried a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Bruins gained a 4-on-3 man advantage just past the halfway point of the second and Jaden Shields blasted a shot through traffic to cut the deficit to 2-1. That goal solidified the momentum for the Bruins, who tied it just over four minutes later when Evan Cholak and Andy Willis set up Xander Lamppa for a backhand to the left of Magicians netminder Connor Klaers. The Bruins outshot the Magicians 12-4 in the period as they entered the third tied at two.

It took just 1:43 of the third for the Bruins to grab their first lead, and it was a significant goal – the first in the NAHL career of Seth Bacon. Cholak fed Riley Doyon on a rush and Bacon finished it with shot just inside the far post. At 6:54, the Magicians evened the game again when Jackson Nauss drove the net and beat Sogaard to make it 3-3. The Magicians had the edge for the remainder of regulation, but the game advanced to overtime.

The Bruins began OT with a power play but couldn’t capitalize, nevertheless dominating the period as they have most of the season. They outshot the Magicians 4-0 but the five minutes passed without a goal. After Sogaard stopped Bram Scheerer, Dominic Skrelja scored with a quick backhand to forehand switch for a 1-0 Bruins lead. Jarrett Lee was stopped by Sogaard and Dante Zapata missed the net, forcing Arturas Laukaitis to score to extend the game. Laukaitis attempted to find the five-hole but Sogaard kept it out to secure the win.

Sogaard stopped 18 of 21 in regulation for his ninth win. Klares went 28/31 in the loss. The Bruins travel to Aberdeen next weekend to try and close the gap even more with the Wings.

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