Photo credit: Eric Johnson, Austin Daily Herald
AUSTIN, MN – It’s becoming an all too familiar story for Steve Howard’s team in the early goings of 2017-18. Score first, play a tight game, and lose in heartbreaking fashion. After leading 1-0 with the only goal of the first 40 minutes, Regan Cavanaugh scored the only goal of the shootout to break a 1-1 tie and send the Bruins home on Saturday night still searching for their first win.
It was a much higher tempo offensive game than Friday, but the goaltenders were rock solid through the first 20 minutes, keeping the game scoreless. Alex Schilling stopped a Kip Hoffman penalty shot at 3:11, while Jets goaltender Garrett Nieto robbed Travis Kothenbeutel on a flashy setup from Reggie Milette.
At 11:10 of the second, the Bruins cashed on a power play when Justin Brandt was able to bank a puck off Nieto for a 1-0 Bruins lead – assists going to Valdemar Ahlberg and Jaden Shields. The Bruins pelted 17 second period shots on Nieto, but led only 1-0.
Janesville got even at 8:27 of the third after Devon Fields coughed up the puck and sprung Christophe Fillion in alone on Schilling. Fillion’s shot snuck just inside the stick-side post to tie the game. It remained 1-1 through overtime, which included a successful 4-on-3 penalty kill for the Bruins who were assessed a two many many on the ice call.
In the shootout, Regan Cavanaugh slid a puck five-hole on Alex Schilling before Schilling stopped Fillion and Hoffman. Nieto, however stopped Evan Cholak, Lane Krenzen, and Valdemar Ahlberg to protect the slim lead and get the Jets their fifth consecutive win. The Bruins take their act on the road this Wednesday night for their first meeting of the regular season with the Brookings Blizzard. Game time is 7:05 and will be broadcast on HockeyTV (AWAY Audio) and AM 1480 KAUS (myaustinminnesota.com). Fans can watch all the action at The Bakery Lounge (113 2nd Ave NE) – the new official home of Bruins road games.
