The Austin Bruins just keep rolling.
Their record of 19-5-4 has put them comfortably in first place in the central division of the North American Hockey League. With 42 points, they're 10 ahead of second-place Bismarck. A couple months into the season, and the Bruins are doing what they need to do.
I went to a game last weekend with my mom and dad. They hadn't been to a Bruins game before, so I thought it would be fun. With the NHL in the middle of its lockout, we've been going through some hockey withdrawals.
A Blizzard came to town
The Bruins played the Brookings Blizzard, a team that the Bruins seem to have matched up well with this season. This particular game was no exception. It ended up being a 3-2 shootout win for the Bruins, though it took a bit for the scoring to get started, and it was a scrambling regulation finish.
The play was fast with action up-and-down the ice. But it was scoreless after the first period. In fact, the first goal didn't come until nearly two periods were in the books. "What's this going to be, a 0-0 tie?" my mom said, just seconds before Jay Dickman scored the power-play goal (with an assist from AJ Reid) with 1:29 left in the second.
We have some history as a family for 0-0 ties. The very first Minnesota Wild game we attended in their inaugural season was just that. We weren't treated to a goal until our next game. It was a little disappointing. Of course, now the game has changed with shootouts in the mix.
The Bruins went up 2-0 with 7:29 left in the third period when the puck, shot by Chris Fischer, trickled over the goal line. It took a minute to call it a goal: Ref on the ice said no goal; goal judge flipped on the goal light. No video replay here, so the goal judge stepped out of his post to confirm the goal.
Then things got interesting.
Crazy two minutes
The Bruins tried to hang on to their 2-0 until the final horn, but the Blizzard had other ideas. With 2:14 remaining, the visitors took their timeout and then pulled their goalie for the extra skater. It paid off. They cut the lead in half with 2:01 left in regulation.
Another chance for the Blizzard came when the Bruins sent a player to the penalty box with 1:18 left. They tied the game with 2.7 ticks remaining, on the power play and with their goalie pulled again. There were plenty of bodies in front of the net on that last one.
To overtime we went. Then it was time for a shootout.
Getting it done in the shootout
I'm not sure how many rounds of shots were fired, but the Bruins eventually came out on top. Brandon Wahlin and Drew Anderson netted their chances. Nate Mondry, Anderson and goalie Nick Lehr were named the stars of the game.
In another close contest, the Bruins lost 5-4 in overtime this past Friday night in Brookings. The two teams matched up again Saturday at Riverside in Austin. From what I heard on the radio, the first two periods didn't go so well for the boys in black and gold. They were down 2-1 after two, but came back with four goals in the final frame to win 5-2.
The Bruins are in Aberdeen this weekend before coming home to ring in the New Year with three games.
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