ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Three second period goals helped the Bruins blow by their division rival St. Cloud Norsemen on Monday night.
It was the third game for the Bruins in their last four days, their fourth in less than a week, and St. Cloud pounced on the slow start for Austin. Logan Kittleson notched his fourth goal of the season when he slipped a shot past Bruins goalie Tyler Shea for the 1-0 Norsemen lead. It was a messy first period as far as penalties went with each team committing three infractions, including St. Cloud forward Nick Young getting a five-minute major and 20-minute game misconduct for spearing. Despite the extended power-play, Austin couldn’t capitalize and found themselves down a goal heading into the first intermission.
Whatever was said in the Bruins locker room during the break must have worked as the Bruins evened the scored just 44 seconds into the middle period. Reggie Millette worked his way into the zone, and from below the St.Cloud goal line the American International commit found Alex Trombley in front of the goal who slipped a shot top-shelf to get the Bruins on the board. Later in the period the Bruins took their first lead of the game when Ben Oakland barreled his way into the offensive end and found Walter Zacher just outside the slot who fluttered one over the shoulder of Norsemen goalie Josh Langford for the 2-1 Bruins lead. One minute and one second later the Bruins took a 3-1 lead thanks to Barrett Brooks who racked up his team-leading twelfth goal of the season and his third goal in as many games against the Norsemen.
In the third the Bruins would score their fourth unanswered goal when Millette crashed the net and managed to slip the rebound through Langford. The goal was the Bruins line power-play tally of the night which came with just one second left on the infraction. The Norsemen attempted to mount a comeback just over five-minutes left in the game when Cooper Gay potted the second goal of the game for the Norsemen but it proved to be too little, too late, as the Bruins took the victory 4-2.
With a goal and two assists, Alex Trombley led all shooters in points on the night. He was joined by Reggie Millette, and Logan Kittleson of St. Cloud, as the game’s multi-point getters. Tyler Shea earned the victory, his ninth of the year, by turning aside 28 of 30 Norsemen shots while Langford was saddled with the loss after surrendering four goals on 24 Bruins chances. The Bruins improved to 12-22-2-2 on the season with the win and jumped over St. Cloud for 5th in the standings, while the Norsemen fell to 13-21-0-1 on the year.
Up next for the black-and-gold, they return home to Austin for a pair of games against the Minot Minotauros on Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27. Tickets for the home stand are on sale now at austinbruins.com.
