BROOKINGS – The Minotauros completed the weekend sweep of the Blizzard as they skated to a 5-3 NAHL Central Division win on Saturday at Larson Ice Center.
Minot scored two goals in the first 6 minutes and 9 seconds of play before Cam Babiak answered off a Parker Revering helper with 4:38 to play in the period.
But the Minotauros lit the lamp just 9 seconds later to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
Minot cashed in on a power-play chance early in the second to go up 4-1 before Josh Boyer tallied two straight goals – the first a power-play tally with 12:30 left off assists from Doug Larson and Max Sasson; and the second set up by Ryan Dickinson and Connor Koviak with 7:23 to play – to get the Blizzard within one at 4-3.
Five minutes, later the Minotauros provided the final margin as neither team could find the back of the net in the third period.
Minot outshot the Blizzard, 36-32, as Samu Lonkila earned the win with 29 saves.
Adam Brizgala and Liam Murray combined to stop 31 of the 36 shots they faced.
Brookings, 15-21-2-2 and in sixth place in the Central with 34 points, travel to Bismarck on Thursday to face the Bobcats, before heading to Minot for a two-game set with the Minotauros over the weekend.
MINOT 5, BROOKINGS 3
Minot 3 2 0 – 5
Brookings 1 2 0 – 3
First Period
Scoring: 1. Minot – Michael Talbot (Brian Adams, Jake Rosenbaum), 17:04. 2. Minot – Sam Fuss (Andrew Kangas, Keenan Lund), 13:51. 1. Brookings – Cam Babiak (Parker Revering), 4:38. 3. Minot – Fritz Belisle (Rykr Cole, Lincoln Erne), 4:29. Penalties: M, Austin Koss (Kneeing), 11:11.
Second Period
Scoring: 4. Minot – Michael Talbot (Austin Dollimer, Miroslav Mucha), pp, 17:46. 2. Brookings – Josh Boyer (Doug Larson, Max Sasson), pp, 12:30. 3. Brookings – Josh Boyer (Ryan Dickinson, Connor Koviak), 7:23. 5. Minot – Alex Adams (Miroslav Mucha, Austin Dollimer), 2:23. Penalties: B, Doug Larson (Holding), 19:35; M, Andrew Kangas (Roughing), 12:56; B, Nolan Turi (Roughing-Double Minor), 1:40.
Third Period
Scoring: None. Penalties: M, Jake Rosenbaum (Roughing), 3:27; B, Max Sasson (Roughing), 3:27; B, Max Sasson (Tripping), 1:01.
Power Plays: M 1-4; B 1-3. Shots on Goal: M 10-15-11 – 36; B 12-8-12 – 32. Saves: M, Samu Lonkila 29; B, Adam Brizgala 1 (6:54); Liam Murray 6 (13:06); Adam Brizgala 24 (38:15).