Bruins Outduel Minotauros with 4-3 Shootout Win

Jan 31, 2020

MINOT, ND. –  Following back-to-back losses on the road against Chippewa last weekend, the Bruins manged to get back into the win colum with a gutsy win over the Minotauros on Friday night, 4-3, by way of the shootout.

In hostile terrtory, the Bruins knew how important getting the game’s first goal would be, and they did just that. Exactly five minutes into the first period, Dante Sheriff fed Hugh Larkin in the slot who slipped the puck between Minot goalie Ben Garrity’s legs for the 1-0 Bruins lead.

Out of the gate in the second period, the Minotauros made sure to even the game. With some leftover power-play time, Minot was able to cash in and level things at 1-1. Later in the period, it was Hugh Larkin scoring his second goal, once again off the feed from Dante Sheriff and the Bruins once again took a goal lead, 2-1. The busy second period continued, but it was Minot who tallied the next two goals getting their first lead of the night, 3-2, and the teams headed into the second intermission.

Midway through the third, Camden Gallagher scored his first NAHL goal with a wrister from the blue line that traveled through traffic and beat Garrity to make things 3-3. From there, neither team was able to solve the opposing goaltender in regulation nor the overtime period and the teams headed to the shootout.

Hugh Quinn was the first shooter for the Bruins who went far blocker-side on Garrity which slipped past the netminder. It would prove to be the shootout’s only goal as Garrity stopped the next two Bruins chances while at the other end Brett Miller stymied all of three ‘Tauros shooters sealing the win for the Bruins, 4-3.

With the win, Brett Miller earned his 50th career junior victory and helped his team improve to 22-12-2-4. Ben Garrity was handed the loss while the Minotauros slipped to 22-12-1-5.  Each team, along with a Bismarck win, has forced a three-way tie for second place in the NAHL Central Division. For the Bruins and Minotauros, the two teams meet for the second time on the weekend Saturday night at Maysa Arena.

Following their stint in North Dakota, the Bruins return home for Paint the Rink Pink on Saturday, February 8 at Riverside Arena. The annual cancer awareness and fundraising game is in it’s 10th season and looks to be the biggest and best one yet. With pink ice, pink specialty jerseys, post-game skits performed by players, and post-game auction with game-won jerseys, signed memoribilia from former players, and more, fans have the chance to help the Bruins raise money for cancer research at the Hormel Institute. Tickets for Paint the Rink Pink are on sale now at all the Bruins vendors including Games People Play, Hy-Vee, Holiday Inn, and Jim’s Marketplace.