By now, the Bruins and Magicians have to be sick of one another. If it wasn’t enough that they were geographical rivals with multiple players on both teams having once played with the other, the schedule over the last six days that has three head-to-head games in it will certainly do the job. After splitting last weekend’s home-and-home, the two teams play a mid-week affair on Wednesday night at Riverside. The Bruins then travel to Brookings on Friday before enjoying a rare Saturday off. Here’s your not-so-weekend preview.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR –
New Kids on the Block: The newest Bruins – Luke Notermann (Blaine, MN) and Jon Richards (Detroit Lakes, MN) seemed to provide a spark to the offense on Friday night in a 6-2 win. Notermann scored his first NAHL goal in the 2nd period for the eventual game winner, while Richards added a power play assist. Both forwards had chances on Saturday night as well in the 2-1 loss.
Mellowing Miller: After going on a goal scoring tear in which he buried 10 goals in 12 games and went five games straight with a goal (not including the Top Prospects Tournament), Bruins captain and leading goal scorer Jade Miller has gone the last four without one. After a seven game drought coming out of the NAHL Showcase in September, Miller hasn’t gone more than four games without a goal, so Wednesday becomes a night to watch him.
Wilson Working: The Magicians had high hopes for Michael Wilson when they traded four players to Coulee Region to acquire him at the end of December. Unfortunately, Wilson suffered an injury in his first game in a Magicians uniform on January 2nd. Upon his return, the former leading scorer of the Chill has scored a goal in each of the last three games, plus one assist.
Brookings Bounce Back: Although the Bruins have a solid 5-1 record in their six meetings with the Blizzard this year, their last trip to Larson Ice Center was one to forget. The Bruins got handily beat 6-1 on January 23rd, a memory that they’d like to wipe away on Friday. Overall, the Bruins have manhandled the Blizzard this season, outscoring them 21-13 in the six meetings.
THE MATCHUP –
Central Division Standings:
|
TEAM |
GP |
W |
L |
OTL |
PTS |
|
Bismarck |
46 |
30 |
15 |
1 |
61 |
|
Minot |
49 |
27 |
17 |
5 |
59 |
|
Austin |
48 |
23 |
21 |
4 |
50 |
|
Brookings |
48 |
19 |
23 |
6 |
44 |
|
Aberdeen |
47 |
17 |
21 |
9 |
43 |
|
MN Magicians |
47 |
18 |
23 |
6 |
42 |
2015-16 Austin vs. MN Magicians head to head (Magicians lead 5-1-0)
click date for game story
11/05/15 Austin 2 at MN Magicians 3
01/29/16 MN Magicians 3 at Austin 0
01/30/16 Austin 3 at MN Magicians 4
02/12/16 Austin 2 at MN Magicians 3/OT
02/26/16 MN Magicians 2 at Austin 6
02/27/16 Austin 1 at MN Magicians 2
03/02/16 @ Austin – 7:05 PM
03/24/16 @ MN Magicians – 7:00 PM
2015-16 Austin vs. Brookings head to head (Bruins lead 5-1-0)
click date for game story
10/02/15 Austin 4 at Brookings 1
10/03/15 Brookings 3 at Austin 6
01/15/16 Brookings 0 at Austin 7
01/16/16 Austin 3/OT at Brookings 2
01/23/16 Austin 1 at Brookings 6
02/05/16 Brookings 1 at Austin 6
03/04/16 @ Brookings – 7:30 PM
03/18/16 @ Austin – 7:05 PM
HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAMES –
The puck drops from Riverside Arena on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM CT. Tickets can be pre-purchased at HyVee, Jim’s Marketplace, Games People Play, and the Holiday Inn for $4 off the door price – $11 for adults and $8 for students and seniors (65+). It’s also Faith Night at Riverside with discounted tickets at the door for members of Austin parishes.
Friday’s night’s game begins at 7:30 from Larson Ice Center in Brookings. Fans are encouraged to catch the action at B&J Bar and Grill, the official home of Bruins road games.
Both games will be broadcast with live streaming video and audio on FASTHockey.com, with the broadcast beginning ten minutes before scheduled faceoff. Intermission updates can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
