ALEXANDRIA — The three-game weekend road trip for the Austin Bruins ended with a loss Saturday night to the Alexandria Blizzard.
After splitting the first two games of the road swing through the Dakotas, the Bruins came back across the state line to the Runestone Community Center for a showdown with the Blizzard. Austin had beaten Alexandria the last time the two teams met, but that wasn't the case this time with a 5-2 loss.
The Blizzard started the scoring early in the opening frame with goal in the first minute of the North American Hockey League game. The Blizzard added two more in the first six minutes of play for a 3-0 lead.
The visiting Bruins answered back as Brandon Wahlin scored on a breakaway at the 7:21 mark of the first period. There just wouldn't be enough offense on the night to mount a comeback and the Bruins were unable to erase their early deficit.
In the second period, the Bruins continued to battle but couldn't slide one past Blizzard goalie Jake Myers. Alexandria put one in the net with less than a minute remaining to make it a 4-1 lead after two periods of play.
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Frustration for the Bruins spilled on to the ice in the third period. The final frame started with a fight as Jeremy Finger of the Bruins spared with Rodney Lalonde of the Blizzard,
Finger won the battle and gave the Bruins a shot of momentum. The Bruins took the initiative and beat Myers for a goal.
CJ Smith scored for the Bruins in the opening three minutes of the third period. The assists went to Jon Gehrt and Illya Arkalov as the deficit was reduced to 4-2.
Despite getting back in the game with the early goal in the third period, the Bruins couldn't sustain the comeback. The Blizzard scored 10 minutes later for the final margin of victory.
Austin Bruins (12-9-2) head back to Alexandria for a game Friday night, then the same two teams play again Saturday night at Riverside Arena.
ALEXANDRIA 5, AUSTIN BRUINS 2
Austin#1#0#1#—#2
Alexandria#3#1#1#—#5
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First period— Alexandria, Charlie Aus (Seth Ronsberg, Tucker Coborn), :58. Alexandria, Jordan Krebsbach (Nick DeCenzo, Gage Torrel), 2:33. Alexandria, Jordan Palusky (Justin Moody, Casey Purpur), 5:27. Austin, Brandon Wahlin, 7:21.
Second period— Alexandria, Brandon Parker (Tucker Coborn, Hayden Trupp), 19:26.
Third period— Austin, CJ Smith (Jonathan Gehrt, Ilya Arkalov), 2:46. Alexandria, Nick DAvolio (Vadim Gyesbreghs, Reid Sturos), 12:07.
Shots-on-goal— Austin 9-12-9—30. Alexandria 15-12-12—39.
Goalies— Austin, Nicholas Lehr (39 shots, 34 saves). Alexandria, Jacob Meyers (30 shots, 28 saves).
Penalties— Austin 6-18, Alexandria 5-16.
