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Minotauros can’t convert chances in 4-1 loss to Bismarck

Submitted Photo Minot's Austin Dollimer (12) tries to control the puck in Bismarck's zone. Photos courtesy of Steve Silseth.

Despite having a 20-7 shot advantage the first two periods, the Minot Minotauros couldn’t find a way to grind out a win over the Bismarck Bobcats Thursday, dropping a 4-1 contest at Maysa Arena.

Minot outshot the Bobcats 25-15 in the game. With the loss, the Minotauros lost their fourth game in a row and fell to 3-5-1 on the year.

“I thought we played pretty solid, actually,” Minot coach Marty Murray said. “On this four-game slide, I actually think we played pretty well in three of the games. We’re just not putting the puck away when we get chances and sometimes when you’re in little funks like this, you don’t get the right bounces. But you have to continue to play the right way.”

The Bobcats struck first on a goal from Matej Murin, then Cooper Haar gave the Bobcats their second score of the night after putting home a perfect pass from teammate Tanner Vesico on a power play attempt. The Bobcats led 2-0 after the first period.

“The two goals we gave up in the first period, we missed assignments,” Murray said. “It’s tough to score goals in this league.”

Submitted Photo Minot's Austin Dollimer (12) takes a slap shot. Photos courtesy of Steve Silseth.

Minot responded in the second period as Miroslav Mucha scored his fifth goal of the season cleaning up a rebound from Noah Ganske’s shot. The Minotauros entered the final period trailing 2-1. The Minotauros dominated the Bobcats in the period, outshooting them 10-2.

“I thought that second period was one of the better periods of hockey we played this season,” Murray said. “For the most part, I thought we played a pretty solid game.”

Bismarck regained the two-goal advantage after a goal from Jared Resseguie just 2:41 into the period.

“I think the first four shifts in the rotation, I thought we came out pretty sluggish,” Murray said. “When they got that third one, that’s a big goal. We put them on their heels in the second period and did a lot of things well, so to come out like that was disappointing.”

The Bobcats sealed the victory with an empty net goal from Resseguie. Bismarck goalie Ryan Ullan racked up 24 saves in 25 chances, while Minot goalie Jack Robbel stopped 11 of 14 chances.

Submitted Photo Minot's Keenan Lund (17) chases down a puck during an NAHL hockey game Thursday at Maysa Arena. Photos courtesy of Steve Silseth.

Minot is back in action against the MN Wilderness at 7:35 p.m. tonight at Maysa Arena.

Garrick Hodge covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @Garrick_Hodge.

Submitted Photo Minot's Aaron Grounds (23) fights for the puck in Bismarck's zone. Photos courtesy of Steve Silseth.

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