Minot Minotauros forward Cameron Rowat scored the lone goal of the shootout and goaltender Tyler Parks stopped all five Austin shooters to give the Tauros a 2-1 victory Friday at Maysa Arena.
Rowat, Minot's first shooter, beat Austin goaltender Nicholas Lehr between the pads and Parks did the rest for the Tauros. Parks stuffed Austin's John Simonson to seal the victory.
"The puck bounced on me a little bit so I kind of panicked and just shot it five-hole," Rowat said. "I got lucky I guess."
Article Photos
Daniel Allar/MDN
Minotauros defenseman Chance Creger looks up ice during Minot’s game against Austin (Minn.) Friday night at Maysa Arena.
Said Parks: "It's really nerve-racking. You don't want to let your team down and you want to win the game for the team."
Minot forward Jadin Martin almost won it for the Tauros in overtime, but his wrist shot ricocheted off the post.
Riding a four-game winning streak entering Friday's game, the Tauros (10-12-1 overall) took a one-goal lead midway through the first period on a power play. Minot defenseman Matt Audette took advantage of a high-sticking penalty to Austin's A.J Reid, scoring his second goal of the season at 9:51 of the opening period.
"Anytime you can get two points you're happy," Tauros coach Marty Murray said. "We did a lot of good things. The game was a little sloppy on both ends at times, but we found a way to win and we'll take it."
Minot forwards Lucas Oliver and Steven Sherman were credited with the assists on Audette's goal.
The Bruins (17-4-3) responded with a power-play goal of their own a few minutes later on a goal by Reid to tie the score at one. Just 14 seconds after Minot forward Jadin Martin was called for high sticking, Reid received the puck in the slot from Cody Dixon and beat Parks.
A mostly uneventful second period was jolted by a skirmish behind the Austin net with less than five minutes remaining, resulting in 77 penalty minutes. The Tauros came out of the scrum with an extended power play lasting just under four minutes. But Austin's penalty kill kept Minot from scoring the tie-breaking goal.
Strong goaltending by both Parks and Nicholas Lehr kept the score knotted at one at the end of regulation to force overtime.
"(Parks has) been outstanding since he's been here," Murray said. "He's been very good and you can tell the confidence in the team from the way he's played."
Parks finished with 29 saves to earn the win in net for the Tauros.
The Tauros host Austin again tonight at 8:05 at Maysa Arena.