MINOT, ND – Austin Rueschhoff and Evan Cholak scored 43 seconds apart in the first two minutes of the second period to pull the Bruins out of an 0-2 hole, but Derek Frentz scored the only goal after that and Minot skated away with a 3-2 win at Maysa Arena on Friday night.
Minot jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Matt Jennings and Jack Murphy. Jennings capitalized on a Kris Carlson turnover below the goal line and banked a puck off the Bruins goaltender and in at the 4:09 mark of the opening period. Murphy finished off a 4 on 2 rush, taking a pass from Jacon Dittel and tipping it past Carlson at 13:13.
At 1:10 of the second, just after a Bruins powerplay had ended, Gilbert Gabor found Rueschhoff in the low slot to cut the lead in half. Less than a minute later, Jacob Paganelli fed Cholak to tie the game at two.
The score remained tied until the 2:46 mark of the 3rd when Derek Frentz lifted a backhand into the top corner, just before Carlson could slide over, and gave Minot a 3-2 lead that they wouldn't relinquish. Minot's Gunner Rivers made 30 saves for the win and Carlson stopped 32 in the losing effort. With Aberdeen and the Magicians both losing on Friday, the Bruins need a single point over their last three games to clinch the #3 seed in the Central Division playoffs.
Austin and Minot finish their regular season series on Saturday night at Maysa Arena at 7:35 PM. The game will be broadcast on FASTHockey.com (AWAY feed), along with a radio stream on AM 1480 KAUS in Austin and online at myaustinminnesota.com.
