RICHFIELD, Minn. – The Bruins earned the extra point on Friday night knocking off the Minnesota Magicians, 2-1, in the shootout.
In the first game of a home-and-home, the Bruins traveled to Richfield for their first meeting of the season with the Magicians. The Bruins continued their recent trend by scoring the game’s first goal early in the period. Just over four minutes in, Jaden Shields scored his first goal of the 2019-20 season when he sent a fluttering shot from the right point through traffic and past Magicians netminder Wes Mankowski. Ben Almquist and Hugh Larkin were credited with assists on the goal and the Bruins took the 1-0 lead. Minnesota battled back, however, equalizing the score at 1-1 a little over nine minutes later. Jake Keller rushed into the zone and while falling down, pushed a shot on goal. Bruins goalie Brett Miller made the sprawling save, but the loose puck slid back into the slot where Luc Laylin pounded it home. Both teams tightened up for the remainder of the period and headed to the locker rooms even at one goal apiece.
Neither team was able to break the tie in the second, third, or overtime periods, despite ample opportunities. Minnesota had a breakaway chance in the middle of the third period that was stopped by Miller’s left pad, and Bruins forward Mason McCormick couldn’t quite complete a two-on-one chance in the game’s final few minutes. After the horn sounded following the overtime period, the teams opted to find a winner in the shootout.
The first two rounds of the shootout went in favor of the goalies, and it was Ben Almquist who scored the first goal in the third round. Up a goal in the shootout, the Bruins had the chance to close out the game with a stop but Jake Seitz was able to roof one over the outstretched right arm of Miller to force a fourth round. Neither team landed a goal in the fifth round, but Dante Sheriff made a silky move to overtake Mankowski and score the go-ahead goal in the sixth round. As the final shooter, Josh Brolin tried to go blocker side on Miller but was denied by the 20-year-old’s right pad and the Bruins earned the victory and the extra point.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 7-6-1-2 on the season while the Magicians slipped to 4-6-3-2. The two teams will wrap up this home-and-home series on Saturday night when the Bruins play host at Riverside Arena. It’s Albert Lea Youth Hockey Night complete with a post-game skate for all fans as the Bruins play their first of six home games in November. Tickets for Saturday’s game can be had at all the Bruins vendors including Games People Play, Hy-Vee, Holiday Inn, and Jim’s Marketplace. Doors open at 6 P.M. with puck drop at 7:05.
