Bears Chased from the Wilderness
Published on November 22, 2014 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Austin Bruins News Release
From down three goals, the Austin Bruins (10-6-7) gave a valiant comeback effort but came up short in a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wilderness (13-6-1) Saturday in Cloquet, MN. It s the first time this season that the Bruins have been swept with back-to-back regulation losses.
For the second night in a row, the Wilderness led 1-0 through 20 minutes. This time, Minnesota scored much later in the opening frame, when Aaron Miller (Superior, WI) threw a backhanded saucer pass across the slot for Billy Exell (Thunder Bay, ON) to tap the puck past Bruins goalie Zach Driscoll (Apple Valley, MN - St. Cloud State). The goal was at 14:16 of the period and was Exell s second of the weekend.
Similarly to Friday night, Minnesota added to its lead early in the second period, as Tobias Bjorklund (Filipstad, Sweden) snapped a one-timer from the point in to the net on the power-play. Then Bjorklund caught the Bruins on a line change when he set-up Jack Forbort (Duluth, MN) with a stretch pass up the middle of the ice. Forbort beat Driscoll on the breakaway to make it 3-0.
Late in the middle period, the Bruins tallied their first goal while short-handed. Nico Sturm (Augsburg, Germany) tried a wraparound, but slid the puck all the way through the crease and up to Ian Scheid (Coon Rapids, MN), who blasted a goal by Wilderness goalie Brock Kautz (Rochester, MN). Kautz tried to scramble back into position, but couldn t do so in time and injured himself on the play. Backup Ryan Anderson (Roseau, MN) took Kautz s place in net for the final minute of the period.
The Bruins scored on the first shot on Anderson in the final minute of the second, when Brian Bachnak (Riverview, MI) collected a centering pass from Trevor Boyd (Muskegon, MI) and beat Anderson through the five-hole to make it a one-goal game going into the third.
Miller, who had a three point night for Minnesota, tapped a rebound into an open net at 8:32 of the final period to take the wind out of the Bruins sails, giving the Wilderness some cushioning the rest of the way. Anderson stopped nine shots in the third period as the Wilderness won their fourth straight. Driscoll made 25 saves in the loss.
The Wilderness stay home Wednesday and welcome the Minnesota Magicians for a pre-Thanksgiving game, before traveling to Bismarck next week. The Bruins return home to host the Janesville Jets Wednesday at 7:05pm at Riverside Arena in Austin. The game can be seen on fasthockey.com. Friday after Thanksgiving, the Bruins travel to Aberdeen for two games against the Wings.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2014
- Michaud Penalty Shot in Overtime Lifts IceRays to Win - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Three-Goal Third Helps 'Cats Claim Seventh-Straight Win - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Bears Chased from the Wilderness - Austin Bruins
- Drabin's Late Goal Gives Tomahawks 3-2 Win Over Eagles - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Runners Notch 300th Win in Topeka - Topeka Pilots
- Bruins' Offense Sputters in Cloquet - Austin Bruins
- Early Goal Doesn't Hold Up, Ice Miners Fall to Jets - Keystone Ice Miners
- Five-Goal First Period Dooms Jacks in 6-2 Defeat to IceRays - Odessa Jackalopes
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