AUSTIN, MN – David Raisanen’s goal at 2:38 of overtime completed a Minot comeback and pushed the Bruins to the brink of elimination after a 3-2 game two loss at Riverside Arena on Saturday night. The Minotauros take a 2-0 series lead in the best of five Central Division Championship series as it shifts to North Dakota next weekend.
The Bruins grabbed a 2-0 first period lead on goals from Evan Cholak and Levi Stauber just 26 seconds apart. On the power play at 8:52, Cholak lifted a sharp-angle shot past goaltender Samu Lonkila off passes from Chase Pilawski and Travis Kothenbeutel. Stauber would score on the ensuing shift after Che Landikusic made a nifty stick-handle below the goal line and found Stauber with a centering pass. Valdemar Ahlberg picked up a secondary helper. In what was undoubtedly the key goal of the game, Minot’s David Raisanen scored with less than one second on the clock, following up after Connor McGinnis had a point shot blocked.
Following a scoreless second period, the ‘Tauros tied the game early in the third when former Bruin Taylor Lantz dangled through the defense and crashed the net. Bruins defenseman Devon Fields tumbled into goaltender Alex Schilling’s pad and pushed the puck across the goal line. The game was tied at two through regulation.
Overtime didn’t last long as Raisanen ended it just 2:38 in. Alex Adams won a battle with Lane Krenzen behind the Bruins net and slipped a pass through Lantz to Raisanen, who beat a falling Schilling to end the game. Final shot totals were 34-26 in favor of the Bruins. Game three is in Minot on Friday night at 7:35 PM. Game four, if necessary is Saturday at the same time.
