AUSTIN, Minn. – For the second consecutive night, the Bruins found themselves on the wrong end of the stick against the Minnesota Wilderness after falling at Riverside Arena on Saturday, 6-3.
The Bruins surrendered the game’s first goal in the opening period when Gavin Rasmussen took a shot off the end wall for a wrap-around goal. it would prove to be the Wilderness’ only goal in the period and the Bruins couldn’t crack the goose egg as both teams entered the first intermission down 1-0.
In the second, Austin tied the game when John Lundy netted his fourth goal of the season off a feed from Reggie Millette, evening the game at 1-1. Minnesota took their lead back a little over four minutes later for when Jacob Badal scored the Wilderness’ third power-play goal of the season. The visitors took a two-goal lead when Rassmussen netted his second goal of the night, pushing the Wilderness up 3-1. Very late in the second period, the Bruins made it closer when Reggie Millette pounded one home with less than 30 seconds remaining.
With the score 3-2, the Bruins started the third period with momentum but Minnesota regained control when Evan Bushy beat goalie Tyler Shea for the 4-2 Minnesota lead. Still trying to climb back into the game, Connor Mylmok continued his strong three-game series with a goal that brought the Bruins to within, 4-3. For the Bruins, it was their sixth consecutive game with a power-play goal while Mylmok registered his fifth point in three games. That would be the final goal of the night for the Bruins while the Wilderness tacked on two more, one into the empty net, to seal the 6-3 win.
Austin registered 45 shots in the game, their third straight game with 35-plus shots, with Minnesota goalie Jacob Zacharewicz turning away 42 of those chances earning the win. Meanwhile, Tyler Shea stopped 25 of 28 Wilderness shots. The Bruins ultimately converted 1 of-5 of their power-play opportunities while going 1-for-2 on their penalty-kill chances.
Up next for the Bruins, they host the St. Cloud Norsemen at Riverside Arena on Wednesday, February 24. Tickets for the first matchup of the season against the Norsemen are still available by visiting www.austinbruins.com/single-game-tickets. Following their mid-week matchup, they welcome the Aberdeen Wings on Friday and Saturday night.
