Late Overtime Goal Boosts Bismarck Over Bruins

Apr 3, 2021

BISMARCK, N.D. — For the second game in their last four, the Austin Bruins earned a standings point but ultimately lost in overtime, this time to the Bismarck Bobcats, 2-1.

For the fifth game in a row, Austin got the scoring started. With just over five minutes left in the opening period, Therien Thiesing took a shot from the blue line that ricocheted of bodies in the slot. The puck landed on the stick of Braidan Simmons-Fischer who pounded home the goal, his first in the NAHL. It would stand as the only goal in the first period and the Bruins headed off to the locker room up 1-0.

In the second, Bismarck rallied to tie the game at one goal apiece when Nico Chmelevski notched his fourth goal of the season beating Hudson Hodges.

Despite each team owning large portions of offensive pressure in the third period, neither Hodges nor Bismarck goaltender Tommy Aitken cracked and extra-time was needed to determine a winner.

The Bobcats completed their weekend sweep with less than a minute to go in overtime when George Grannis sped past the Bruins defense and made a nifty move to fool Hodges and take the game for Bismarck, 2-1.

With the loss, the Bruins slipped to 12-23-4-2 on the season but managed to earn a standings point to remain in fifth place in the NAHL Central Division. Bismarck improved to 24-14-2-3 on the year with their victory. Hudson Hodges made 34 saves on 36 opportunities despite being saddled with the loss while Tommy Aitken earned the win in goal by stopping 24 of 25 Bruins chances. Austin managed to go perfect on the penalty kill, stopping Bismarck three times, but failed to register a power-play goal in their lone chance.

The Bruins head home for three games this week, beginning on Wednesday with a matchup against the Midwest leading Minnesota Magicians. Following their midweek game, they welcome the Bobcats back to Riverside arena to finish out the season series. Tickets for all upcoming Bruins home games can be had by visiting www.austinbruins.com/single-game-tickets.