Wiemken, Austin Bruins blank Minot to take over first place in division
Oct. 29—AUSTIN — The Austin Bruins bounced back from a one-goal loss Friday night with an excellent defensive performance Saturday, blanking North American Hockey League Central Division rival Minot 2-0 at Riverside Arena.
The Bruins (10-3-1 overall) regained sole possession of first place in the division with the win.
Austin outshot Minot 27-26 and kept the Minotauros off the board on five power-play chances.
Veteran Bruins goalie Trent Wiemken was outstanding again, making 26 saves to record his second shutout of the season and second in his last three starts.
Wiemken, who backstopped the Bruins to the Robertson Cup national championship game last spring, has been every bit as good this season, if not better. He is 8-3-0 with a 1.61 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage, the third-best mark in the entire NAHL among goalies with at least five starts.
He received enough offensive support to boost the Bruins to their 10th win and a two-point lead on Minot in the standings.
The Bruins scored one power-play goal — by Will Diamond, who joined the Bruins three weeks ago in a trade with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL — and an empty-net goal, as Parker Anderson sealed the victory with just 23.7 seconds remaining in the game.
Third-year Bruins Damon Furuseth and Austin Salani had one assist each in the win.
The Bruins are back home next weekend to cap a four-game homestand, with 7:05 p.m. contests against the Bismarck Bobcats.
BOX SCORE: Austin Bruins 2, Minot Minotauros 0
