AUSTIN, MN – The Bruins delivered one of their most complete efforts of the season in the team’s biggest home game of the year on Saturday Night at Riverside Arena. In front of a sellout crowd, they put together a dominant performance, beating the Minnesota Magicians, 5-1 on pink-painted ice.
The Bruins completely dictated play in the first period, outshooting the Magicians by a 20-1 margin, and finally breaking through at 15:44 when Riley Doyon spotted Travis Kothenbeutel to the left of Magicians goalie Isiah Saville. Kothenbeutel beat Saville’s glove hand for his team-leading 19th goal of the season and the 51st of his career – tying Jay Dickman for the Bruins career record. Despite the 20 shots, it was only a 1-0 game after one.
In the second period, the Bruins cashed in on a power play at 13:29, when Jade Shields faked a shot and spotted Dante Sheriff for a one-timer at the left-wing circle to double the lead to 2-0. That was the score heading to the third.
Devon Fields and Davis Kirkendall fought early in the third period, exciting the crowd at Riverside. Shortly after, Alex Mella would make it a 3-0 game with a blistering wrist shot to the stick side of Saville. Another power play goal would put the game away at 10:01 when Dan Petrick finished an Evan Cholak pass for his eighth of the season, and seventh power play tally. Five minutes later, Mella struck again on a setup from Sheriff to make it 5-0. Former Bruin Arturas Laukaitis spoiled Alex Schilling’s shutout bid by scoring with just under two minutes left in regulation.
Schilling stopped 16 of 17 for his 15th win. Saville took the loss going 30/34 and was pulled after the fourth goal. The Bruins climbed within two points of first place due to Aberdeen’s loss to Bismarck. The Wings come to town next weekend for a pair of 7:05 PM faceoffs.
