AUSTIN, Minn. – One night after the Bruins dropped five on the Bismarck Bobcats the visitors returned the favor by taking down the Bruins 5-0.
Unlike Friday night where each team got on the board in the first period, Saturday night’s opening frame went by with the goalies standing tall and keeping everything out. It looked like the Bruins got the game’s first goal after Bismarck netminder Tommy Aitken saw a redirected shot beat him, but the official call was that the goal was deflected with a high-stick and the tally was waved off.
In the second, Bismarck jumped out front first for the second time in as many nights when Ryan Taylor registered his first of two goals on the game. Trailing by a goal, 1-0, it looked like the Bruins had their opportunity to even the score when Bismarck notched their eighth shorthanded goal of the season off the stick of Thomas Bergsland. Bismarck lept out to a 3-0 lead late in the middle period thanks to George Grannis who fanned on a shot but got a second chance and sped one past Bruins goalie Hudson Hodges.
In the third, the Bobcats added two more goals including Taylor’s second of the game, and eventually walked away from the game with the 5-0 victory. The Bruins managed to outshoot the Bobcats 40 to 31, but Bismarck goalie Tommy Aitken was perfect on all 40 to earn the victory.
Up next for the Bruins, a very short turnaround as they take on the St. Cloud Norsemen this Monday night at the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex. It’ll be the Bruins’ third game of the season against their closest divisional rivals, a season series that stands tied at one game a piece. Voice of the Bruins TJ Chillot brings you all the action on HockeyTV and Power96 with broadcasts coming at 7:00 for a 7:10 puck drop.
