Tauros avoid elimination with a 3-1 win over Aberdeen in Game 4

Minot Daily News 2019 North Dakota Newspaper Association: Sports Series (Part 3/8), Honorable Mention.

Photo by Steve Silseth

MINOT — Season on the line and the Minot Minotauros didn’t disappoint. The Minotauros brushed off elimination with a 3-1 victory over the Aberdeen Wings in Game 4 of the first round of the NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs Saturday night at Maysa Arena. The best of five series returns to Aberdeen on Monday tied at 2-2. “It was do-or-die for us tonight and we laid it all out there,” Minotauros coach Marty Murray said. “We created a lot more chances and buried them. Now, Game 5. It’s really exciting and anything could happen.” A scoreless first period had the Minotauros creating most of the quality scoring chances and they outshot the Wings 10-4. It was a sign of better things to come. Minot native Colby Enns came the closest to lighting the lamp with a wrist shot that collided off the right post. Miroslav Mucha gathered the rebound, but shot over an open net. Two and a half minutes into the second period, the Minotauros turned the momentum of a successful first 20 minutes into the opening goal. It was the unlikely fourth line in Game 4 that stepped up. Scraping away at the front of the net, Ryan Green buried his first goal of the postseason. Green and linemate David Raisanen were both healthy scratches in Games 2 and 3. “That was huge,” Murray said. “Raisanen is a big body and Green provides some energy with some speed. I thought they could come in and give our lineup a spark, and they did.” The fourth line came through again with 3:53 left in the second period, as co-assistant captain Michael Talbot set up fellow co-assistant captain Nolan Sawchuk. Both picked up their first points of the playoffs. The 2-0 cushion was enough with goaltender Samu Lonkila between the pipes. Lonkila came up with a huge 5-on-3 paddle save after teammate Ondrej Pavel was issued a controversial charging penalty for running into Wings goaltender Matt Vernon on a breakaway attempt. Lonkila made 21 saves, as the Tauros outshot the Wings 30-22 in the contest. It was the first time in the series that Minot had outshot Aberdeen. With just under 14 minutes remaining, Adams ended the Minotauros power play drought with a one-timer rocket off a pass from Sawchuk. It was Minot’s first power play goal in the playoffs after 14 unsuccessful attempts. “It was a good shot,” Murray said. “Al’s biggest asset is his shot, so if he is in a position to load up then we are all for it. It was nice to see that one go in. Hopefully, it gives our power play a little momentum going into Game 5.” Aberdeen broke up Lonkila’s shutout bid with 8:37 remaining on a shot from the blue line by Andrew Sinard that was redirected on its way to the net by Nic Sicoly. It was too little, too late. The Tauros held on in the final minutes to force an all-or-nothing Game 5 at 7:15 p.m. Monday in Aberdeen. “Our backs are still up against the wall, nothing has changed,” Murray said. “But, now their backs are up against the wall too. Two good hockey teams and I know we will be ready. It’s a tough environment to play in, but sometimes home ice isn’t always the biggest thing either. I think we feel comfortable playing down there.”