AUSTIN, MN – Cole Lawrence and Zsombor Garat each scored second period goals to break 3-3 and 4-4 ties respectively as the Bruins edged the Aberdeen Wings, 6-4 on Friday night at Riverside Arena.
Despite only four first period shots, the Bruins managed three goals. Tanner DuFault (Kasson, MN) scored just over a minute into the game, finishing a high-to-low slot pass from Logan Haskins. Haskins (Rochester, MN) would score at 11:54, under two minutes after Zach Noble’s game tying goal. Haskins picked up a rebound kicked out by Forbes Ploszaj from a shot taken by Jon Richards (Callaway, MN) and put the Bruins up 2-1. Later in the period, with a 4-on-3 powerplay, Travis Kothenbeutel blasted a shot from the middle for a 3-1 lead, which was the margin after one period.
Aberdeen came out flying in the second and scored twice early. Goals by Nick Jenny (:17) and Trystan Isenhour (3:44 – PP) knotted the score at 3. At 5:15, Lawrence (Eden Prairie, MN) ripped a shot into the roof of the net off a Dante Zapata faceoff win to put the Bruins back ahead 4-3. With under two minutes left in the frame, Kevin Fitzgerald tied it at 4 with a deflection goal, setting the stage for Garat to put the Bruins back on top in the final minute, bouncing a shot off a Wings defenseman and in behind Ploszaj. It was 5-4 Bruins through two.
The Bruins outshot Aberdeen 7-4 in the 3rd and added an AJ Drobot empty net goal to seal a 6-4 win.
The winning goaltender was Jake Kucharski with 24 saves. The Bruins and Wings finish the weekend at Riverside Arena on Saturday night at 7:05. It’s Teddy Bear Toss with Power 96 Radio, broadcasting live from the lobby at 5:00 PM. Fans are encouraged to throw stuffed animals onto the ice after the Bruins first goal – all proceeds benefiting the Salvation Army.
