MINOT, ND – With the Robertson Cup Playoff race well underway, the Austin Bruins took on the Central Division Leading Minot Minotauros Friday Night looking to pick up two must-have points.
Going into Friday Night, the Bruins sat in 4th in the Central Division Standings due to having the tie-breaker over the St. Cloud Norsemen but looked to help their cause. It would be a quiet first period, as both the Bruins and the Minotauros would be scoreless after the first twenty minutes of action at the Pepsi Rink. That would all change just two minutes and forty-five seconds into the 2nd period, as Will Diamond would tally his 6th goal of the season off a clean pass from Gustav Noren. Reilley Kotati would also pick up an assist on the goal from Diamond. While Diamond’s goal would prove to be the eventual game-winner, the Bruins didn’t let off the gas. Jackson Rieli would snap a quick shot past Minotauros’ netminder Brady James’ glove side to extend the Bruins lead to 2-0 at the 12:40 mark of the 2nd. Damon Furuseth and Guiseppe Fiorillo would combine on the assist for Rilei’s 4th goal of the season.
From there, it would be all Trent Wiemken and the Bruins’ Penalty Kill. In the 3rd period, the Bruins would find themselves on a 5-minute penalty kill and they would stand tall and get the job done. During that time, Wiemken would see a flurry of shots and with help from his defensemen, would deny everything thrown his way en route to his 17th win of the season and 3rd shutout of the year.
The Bruins look to cap off the weekend Saturday Night in the final Regular Season Game in Minot with a win and achieve a weekend sweep over the Minotauros, a feat that no team this season has yet to accomplish. Game time is set for 7:35 pm CST with the all-action live on NAHLtv.com
