Sean Williams/MDN Trevor Stachowiak (81) of the Minot Minotauros carries the puck in the offensive zone earlier this year at the Maysa Arena.

Having just three points separating themselves from being in a playoff spot entering Friday night, every game and every series is going to be a battle for the Minot Minotauros (26-25-2), as they look to make it back to the Robertson Cup Playoffs.

On Friday night, the team opened a two-game road series against the North Iowa Bulls (28-22-3) where a sweep would be ideal, but if the Tauros could get at least a point in each contest that would certainly help, too.

Getting off to a blazing-hot start, the Tauros erupted for four goals in the first period and the damage they did early on proved to be enough, despite a late effort by the Bulls in a 4-3 win over on Friday night.

When it comes down to needing players to step up in big moments of the season, teams often rely on their leadership group. Rising to the occasion early was Tauros’ captain Trevor Stachowiak, who scored an unassisted goal with 15:09 left in the opening period to put Minot on the board with a 1-0 lead.

Exploding for three more goals in the opening period, the Tauros put forth a scoring by committee approach that paid off in a big way. Colby Joseph doubled Minot’s lead to 2-0 after deflecting one in off a Nick O’Hanisain shot for a power-play goal.

A few minutes later, Chase LaPinta fired a shot on goal and then proceeded to get his own rebound and sent it home to give Minot a 3-0 lead on a Hunter Longhi assist.

Rounding out the scoring in the first period was a first-career goal, as Blake Steenerson netted his first as a Minotauro on a Joe Blackley assist, bringing the game to its 4-0 total at the end of the first.

Even though the Bulls outshot the Tauros 10-1 nearing the midpoint of the second period and were up 25-19 in shots on goal in the game, Noah Rupprecht was making an impact by not allowing the Bulls to score before the final period. In a much quieter frame, the Tauros maintained their 4-0 lead heading into the third period.

Nearing the 44th minute of action and on their 29th shot of the game, the Bulls would break their scoreless drought, making it a 4-1 Tauros’ lead on a goal by Logan Dombrowsky. Shortly after, the Tauros went on the penalty kill for the first time, but eliminated any momentum the Bulls were building by keeping them off the board for now.

In the final 4:13 of the game, the Bulls added two late goals courtesy of Simone Dadie on a power-play score and Max Scott on an even-strength goal to make it a 4-3 game. Suddenly, the Bulls had life, but they got called for a penalty with 2:30 left.

The penalty proved to be costly, as the Tauros were able to ride the man advantage to the final 30 seconds of play and held on for a 4-3 victory over the Bulls. Rupprecht ended the night stopping 36 of the 39 shots he faced.

Up next, the Tauros and Bulls will be back on the ice tonight at 7:10 p.m. for the final game of the series. Following a big win in the opening game, the Tauros aim for an important sweep tonight.