Shootout Woes Continue for Bruins
November 15, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Austin Bruins News Release
The good news about the playoffs, which are five months away, is there are no shootouts to decide games. The Austin Bruins (10-4-7) bad luck in the breakaway relay this season continued Saturday in a 4-3 loss to the Janesville Jets (14-6-1) at the Janesville Ice Arena.
The big moment of the first period occurred at 11:05 when Jets forward Kip Hoffmann (Huntley, IL) hit Bruins defenseman Cory Dunn (Trenton, MI) from behind into the boards and received a double-minor penalty and game ejection. Dunn left the game to get stitches over his left eye, and did not return.
On the ensuing five-minute power-play, Trevor Boyd (Muskegon, MI) scored to give Austin a 1-0 lead, and just over a minute later, JC Maclean (Basking Ridge, NJ) lit the lamp to make it 2-0. 24 seconds after Maclean s goal, Janesville answered when Zach Lavalle (Oakdale, MN) tapped in a rebound. The Bruins led 2-1 after one, outshooting the Jets 11-9.
The roles were reversed a bit in the second period, as the Bruins paid the price for undisciplined penalties. Shortly after killing of a penalty on Zach Kennedy (Eagle River, WI) for high-sticking, Alex Pettersson (Ockero, Sweden) was sent to the box for holding. Lavalle scored nine seconds into the man-advantage to tie the game for Janesville and that score stood through the end of the period. The Jets outshot the Bruins 8-3 in the frame.
Boyd scored his second of the game one minute into the third period from low in the right circle on the power-play to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead. Austin goaltender Zach Driscoll (Apple Valley, MN - St. Cloud State) made three huge pad saves through the middle part of the period on chances in close to keep the narrow lead.
A controversial tripping penalty on Austin s Nico Sturm (Augsburg, Germany), who looked to have delivered a clean open ice hit on Janesville s Brandon Schultz (Ft. Myers, FL), gave the Jets a late power-play. On the ensuing man-advantage, Alex Smith (Brownstown, MI) sent a wrist shot from the point through traffic and into the Bruins net to tie the game and force overtime.
The Bruins received a power-play in the extra period, when Driscoll was run into by a hard-charging Jets forward at the end of a rush, but couldn t bury the game-winner.
In the dreaded shootout, Austin s only goal came from Maclean, while Janesville s Schultz and Adam Winborg (Stockholm, Sweden) scored to win it for the Jets. Driscoll stopped 25 shots in the loss, while Jared Rutledge (Skokie, IL) stopped 17 in the win, plus four more in the shootout.
The Bruins hit the road again next Friday and Saturday to Cloquet, MN to face the Minnesota Wilderness for the first time this year. The Jets will return to Austin for a Wednesday night game before Thanksgiving at Riverside Arena, the next time the Bruins are at home.
• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...
North American Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2014
- Shootout Woes Continue for Bruins - Austin Bruins
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Austin Bruins Stories
- Nathan Williams Commits to Lake Superior State University
- Bruins Sweep Weekend Series against St. Cloud, Jump to 3rd in Division Standing
- Bruins Launch Hometown Food Security Project Fundraiser
- Wiemken's 37-Save Shutout Backstops Bruins to Win over Minot
- Bruins Partner with the Hormel Institute for Black and Gold Gala Benefiting Cancer Research