WEEKEND PREVIEW: Bruins look for 5 in a row

Jan 19, 2016

Photo credit: Don Boesen, Boesen Photography

With a home-and-home sweep of the Brookings Blizzard, the Bruins have matched their season high four game winning streak. Second place Bismarck matched the Austin sweep with two wins of their own against Aberdeen, keeping pace at two points behind the Bruins in the race for first place in the Central. For the second of three consecutive weekend, the B’s will play Friday and home (vs. Coulee Region) and Saturday on the road (at Brookings), as they try to keep one trend going while ending another. Here is your weekend preview for games #37 and 38.

 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR –

Home ice not nice: The season series between the Bruins and Coulee Region Chill has been a difficult one to figure out, with the visiting team winning all five games. The Bruins have captured 3-1, 4-1, and 4-2 wins in three trips to La Crosse while the Chill registered fairly decisive 6-2 and 5-2 wins at Riverside. The two teams most recently played on New Year’s Eve in Austin – a game that was tied at two through 2 periods, before Coulee scored three in the third to cruise to victory. The Bruins and Chill will play twice more after Friday night, once at each respective venue.

Miller time: Captain Jade Miller had a huge weekend, with four goals in Friday’s 7-0 home win and then an assist on Saturday night. Miller’s big night Friday was his fifth multi-goal performance of the season and second hat trick (Sept. 23rd vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). He was appropriately named NAHL Central Division First Star of the Week – the second time he’s captured the honor this season.

Comeback kids: The script from Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime win at Brookings followed an eerily similar path to that of the OT win by the same score eight days prior against Aberdeen. The Bruins gave up the first goal, tied it only briefly, and trailed 2-1 heading into the third period. The parallels don’t stop there. The Bruins tied the game late, and began the extra period shorthanded. On both nights, they’d kill the penalty and ultimately prevail – with Jacob Paganelli playing hero on Saturday. Coming into the first of the OT wins, the Bruins had only one victory when trailing at the end of two periods. They now have two in as many weeks.

South Dakota Domination: The Bruins are a stunning 10-0-0 against Aberdeen and Brookings this season, accounting for just about half of their total wins. They have four games left against each team this season including Saturday night, once again in Brookings.

 

THE MATCHUPS –

Central Division Standings:

TEAM

GP

W

L

OTL

PTS

Austin

36

21

14

1

43

Bismarck

34

20

13

1

41

Minot

37

18

16

3

39

Brookings

36

15

15

6

36

MN Magicians

35

14

17

4

32

Aberdeen

33

12

16

6

30

 

Midwest Division Standings:

TEAM

GP

W

L

OTL

PTS

Fairbanks

36

28

5

3

59

MN Wilderness  

37

24

10

3

51

Janesville

34

20

11

3

43

Springfield

36

19

13

4

42

Coulee Region

33

15

18

0

30

Kenai River

36

2

33

1

5

 

2015-16 Austin vs. Coulee Region head to head (Bruins lead 3-2-0)
click date for game story

11/06/15 Coulee Region 6 at Austin 2
11/07/15 Austin 3 at Coulee Region 1
11/25/15 Austin 4 at Coulee Region 1
12/19/15 Austin 4 at Coulee Region 2
12/31/15 Coulee Region 5 at Austin 2
01/22/16 @ Austin – 7:05 PM
02/06/16 @ Austin – 7:05 PM
02/13/16 @ Coulee Region – 7:00 PM

2015-16 Austin vs. Brookings head to head (Bruins lead 4-0-0)
click date for game story

10/02/15 Austin 4 at Brookings 1
10/03/15 Brookings 3 at Austin 6
01/15/16 Brookings 0 at Austin 7
01/16/16 Austin 3/OT at Brookings 2
01/23/16 @ Brookings – 7:30 PM
02/05/16 @ Austin – 7:05 PM
03/04/16 @ Brookings – 7:30 PM
03/18/16 @ Austin – 7:05 PM

 

HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAMES –

The puck drops from Riverside Arena on Friday night between the Bruins and Chill at 7:05 PM CT. Tickets can be pre-purchased at HyVee, Jim’s Marketplace, Games People Play, and the Holiday Inn for $4 off the door price – $11 for adults and $8 for students and seniors (65+). The game will be broadcast with live streaming video and audio on FASTHockey.com and with only on AM 1480 KAUS and myaustinminnesota.com beginning at 6:55, with intermission updates on Facebook and Twitter (@theaustinbruins).

Saturday's game is a 7:30 PM start time from Larson Ice Center in Brookings and will be on FASTHockey only. Watch the "AWAY" feed for the Bruins broadcast network. Broadcast time is 7:20 PM. Fans are encouraged to watch the game at the official home of Bruins away games, B&J Bar and Grill – located at 114 4th Ave NE in downtown Austin.