It was one of the lightest crowds you'll see for an Austin Bruins game at Riverside Arena. I'm sure a certain NFL playoff game at the same time Saturday night had something to do with the 689 people wanting to watch hockey, when the games usually draw at least 1,000 people.
Oh well. The atmosphere was still pretty good for the tight, physical game against Minot that the Bruins won 4-3 in a shootout. It was the second game with my parents, and my brother came along, too. When they come to a game, the Bruins win in a shootout, apparently.
All of the contests between Minot and Austin have been tight this year. Friday's game was also a shootout, with the extra point going to Minot. Saturday was also the most physical game I've seen this season from the Bruins.
No goals, just fights, in second period
The second period saw some pushing and shoving. Austin's Chris Fischer got a 10-minute misconduct penalty, and then promptly dropped the gloves after his time in the box was up. Brandon Wahlin and Nolan Kirley also were on top of their physical play.
It was with 2:33 left in the game that Austin tied it up at 3 on a goal by Easton Viitala. Nothing doing in overtime, so on to the shootout.
The real story of the shootout was Austin goalie Jason Pawloski (who's 17 years old). He stopped all four attempts by Minot players. For the Bruins, Jay Dickman and Wahlin scored to help the Bruins along to the 4-3 victory.
Back-and-forth first period
The bulk of the scoring Saturday was done in the first period. The Bruins also struggled to keep a lead. Fischer had a beautiful, unassisted, shorthanded goal on a breakaway at 8:53 to get the scoring started. But Minot came right back in less than a minute with a power-play goal.
Later in the period, CJ Smith had a top-shelf goal on the power play with 4:03 left to get the lead back. Once again, Minot came back with a quick shot off a faceoff with 2:53 left. The visitors made it 3-2 with 1:19 remaining.
Minot held the 3-2 score well into the third period.
Delay of game
There was a lengthy delay in the third (with 11:36 left) when Kirley and Minot's David Dalbec raced for the puck and lost an edge before colliding with each other into the boards. Dalbec was wheeled off the ice on a stretcher, which from the stands looked to be precautionary.
Once play resumed, it was a revolving door to the penalty box for the home team. The Bruins also had their chances on a 5-on-3 but couldn't capitalize.
The three stars of the game for the Bruins were: 1. Pawloski, 2. Viitala, 3. Smith.
Austin remains in first place in the Central Division of the North American Hockey League with 55 points. The Bruins lead second-place Bismarck by 15 points.
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