CLOQUET, Minn. — With the Minot Minotauros and Minnesota Wilderness knotted at 3-3 after two periods, the third frame became all the more critical.

Minot cashed in on its opportunity, defeating the Wilderness 4-3 on Saturday evening. Each team scored one goal in the first period and two goals in the second frame.

Minnesota’s Chikara Hanzawa (9:29) found the back of the net first, but Minot’s Dan Russell (13:50) countered with a strike later in the period. Kyler Kleven assisted on Russell’s goal.

Ben Strinden (1:21) received an assist from Nikolai Charchenko on his first goal of the season. Garrett Worth (1:36) countered with a Wilderness goal just 15 seconds later.

The second period didn’t pass by without some more drama. Minnesota’s Tyler Watkins (19:44) scored a late goal, but Cole Hanson (19:58) answered for the Minotauros with just seconds left. Ryan Petersen notched his first assist on Hanson’s goal.

Cade Stibbe (7:13) scored the golden goal for the Minotauros in the third period. Stibbe’s strike was unassisted.

The Minotauros will travel to Bismarck for a 7:15 p.m. showdown with the rival Bobcats on Nov. 27.

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