Bruins Sweep Wilderness, Clinch Playoffs
Published on February 21, 2015 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Austin Bruins News Release
With 11 games to play in the regular season, the Austin Bruins magic number was one. All that was needed Saturday was a point to clinch a playoff spot.
After three lead changes and a fourth consecutive overtime game against the Minnesota Wilderness, the Bruins (29-10-11) took care of business, beating the Wilderness (32-10-6) 5-4 at the Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet.
As has been the case recently, the Bruins managed to score first. 5:30 into the game, Jacob Kullberg (Kallered, Sweden) jammed in a loose puck on a scramble in front of the net after Nico Sturm (Augsberg, Germany) took the initial try. Sturm also assisted on the second Bruins goal later in the period.
Austin went to the power play midway through the period. 16 seconds into the man-advantage, Tony Uglem (Moorhead, MN) ripped a one-timer into the net to complete a tic-tac-toe passing play started by Alex Jasiek (St. Louis, MO) and executed perfectly by Sturm.
Two quick penalties were called back-to-back on the Bruins late in the first period, which gave the Wilderness a 5-on-3 advantage, and Minnesota capitalized shortly thereafter when Darian Romanko (Shoreview, MN) tapped in a one-timer from low in the slot. Austin led 2-1 after one.
Minnesota s momentum gained at the end of the first carried over to the second. The Wilderness manhandled the Bruins in the middle frame, outshooting Austin 14-3. Dan Litchke (Superior, WI) snapped a short-handed goal into the net on a 2-on-1 rush to tie the game at 8:17, and Ian Mansfield (Lakewood, CO) weaved through traffic on the way to the net to give the Wilderness their first lead of the weekend heading into the third period.
One huge shot gave the Bruins life again in the third period. At the end of a lengthy shift in the offensive zone, Derek Olmschenk (Lino Lakes, MN) stepped up and let go a missile that saw its way through traffic and in to the net to tie the game 3-3. Then on a power play, Brian Bachnak (Riverview, MI) tipped an Olmschenk shot in front of the net to give Austin the lead back. It was Bachnak s fifth goal in the last three games.
But Minnesota again had an answer. Romanko capitalized on a juicy rebound late in regulation for his second goal of the night to force overtime. In the final minute of the extra period, Uglem provided the heroics with a wicked wrist shot from the circle that he lifted up into the top shelf.
The win clinched a playoff spot for the Bruins, gave Jake Kielly (Eden Prairie, MN) his seventh consecutive win, and completed the weekend sweep in Cloquet.
These two teams meet just one more weekend, when the Bruins host the Wilderness March 13-14 in Austin. Next weekend, the Bruins return to Riverside Arena for a final regular season series against Aberdeen. Game time on Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 7:05pm, in what could be a preview of a potential first round playoff series in the Central Division.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2015
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- Bruins Sweep Wilderness, Clinch Playoffs - Austin Bruins
- IceRays Earn Second Shutout in Shootout Win, 1-0 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Jaeger Tallies Twice To Lead 'Cats Past Bulls - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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- Romzek's Hat Trick Boosts Ice Miners over Ice Dogs - Keystone Ice Miners
- Tomahawks Open Alaska Road Trip with 3-1 Win - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Bobcats Stunned in Final Minute - Bismarck Bobcats
- Red-Hot Bruins Cool Streaking Wilderness - Austin Bruins
- Bulls Dump Cats 7-3 - Amarillo Bulls
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