While their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, the Austin Bruins were able to pick up a point as they lost 4-3 to Minot (35-16-4 overall) in a shootout in Riverside Arena Saturday.
The Bruins went 0-for-2 in the shootout and Minot went 2-for-3.
The Bruins forced the extra session when Jan Stefka, AJ Drobot and Evan Cholak all scored in a four-minute stretch to tie the game at 3-3 in the second period.
Austin (20-27-2-5) is 10 points behind Aberdeen for the fourth and final spot in the NAHL Central playoffs and Austin has just six games remaining in the season. Austin would have to win out and hope the Wings struggle down the stretch to make the postseason.
Jake Kucharski had 29 saves in the loss for Austin.
SCORING SUMMARY
Minot 2  1  0  0  1  –  4
Austin 0  3  0  0  0  –  3
First period
(M) Alex Adams (Derek Frents, Erik Holmstrom) 14:31
(M) Zach Bross (Nolan Sawchuk, Charles Weiand) 14:31
Second period
(M) Austin Martinsen (Luke Davison) 9:35
(A) Jan Stefka (Michael Piehler, AJ Drobot) (power play) 15:04
(A) Drobot (Kyle Looft, Keaton Pehrson) (power play) (power play) 15:44
(A) Evan Cholak (Travis Kothenbeutel) (short handed) 18:38
Third period
No scoring
OT
No scoring
Power plays: Austin – 2-for-5; Minot – 0-for-4
Shots: Austin – 32; Minot 33