AUSTIN, MN – Michael Piehler entered Saturday night’s game against the Bismarck Bobcats with two goals on the season. He’d exit with five. Piehler’s hat trick – coming entirely in the second period led the Bruins to their second straight 5-2 win over the Bismarck Bobcats and a weekend home sweep.
For the fourth game in a row, the Bruins allowed the first goal when Parker Mismash converted on a 5 on 3 at 11:30 of the first period. The Bruins would otherwise dictate play in the period, outshooting Bismarck, 13-8. Piehler evened the ledger at 6:43 of the 2nd, scooping home a rebound from a Charlie Spetz point shot that deflected off Cole Lawrence. The Bruins rolled from there and took their first lead when Jon Richards buried his team leading 6th goal at 10:45, a wrist shot off the right wing. Piehler then got two in a span of 30 seconds, deflecting a Cooper Sande shot at 14:15 and following his own wraparound attempt at 14:45 to complete the hat trick. The Bruins led 4-1 after two periods.
In the third, Bismarck came out strong and scored early. Tobias Fladeby fed former Bruin Zach Kennedy at 4:50 during 4-on-4 play and shortly after Toby Sengvongxay took a tripping penalty, giving Bismarck a 4 on 3 advantage. Amazingly, Evan Cholak scored a shorthanded goal, working past Bobcat defenseman Jordan Fralich and moving the puck around goaltender Will Ulrich for a highlight-reel goal and a 5-2 Bruins margin, which would hold up as the final.
The winning goaltender was Alex Schilling, making 18 saves on 20 shots for his 2nd win. Ulrich faced 39 shots and stopped 34 in the losing effort. The Bruins finish their homestand by hosting the Coulee Region Chill next Saturday, November 12th at 7:05. In honor of military appreciation night, all active and former military receive free admission to the game with military I.D..
