Scoring a pair of goals in the third period allowed the Austin Bruins to get a split over the weekend against the Alexandria Blizzard.
The Bruins overcame a 4-3 deficit after the second period to beat the Blizzard on Saturday night at Riverside Arena. Sam Olson and Jeremy Finger scored the decisive goals for the Bruins in the third period for the 5-4 win.
A power play goal in the opening three minutes of the game gave the Bruins the early lead. Trevor Waldoch scored the first goal of the night and then, things settled into a defensive struggle. Austin starting goalie Eamon McAdam had nine saves in the first period and kept the visitors scoreless.
The offense added to the Bruins lead with a goal inside the final four minutes. Jordan Greenberg scored the first of his two goals to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead after the first period.
Greenberg followed with another goal in the opening seconds of the second period. This made it 3-0 for the Bruins, but their lead didn't last.
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Alexandria (12-11) came back with four goals to close out the second period. The Blizzard fired 20 shots at McAdam in the period and he was replaced by Keegan Asmundson in the third period.
Things got kind of wild during the sequence of the final goal inside the last two minutes of the second period. Connor Quinn of the Bruins and Michael Pieper of the Blizzard were both given 10-minute major penalties for fighting.
Bruins coach Chris Tok also got an unsportsmanlike penalty, while McAdam was whistled for roughing and delay of game. All of this excitement seemed to energize the home team.
Turning the tide, the Bruins fired 11 more shots than the Blizzard in the third period. Olson scored just shy of the midway point to tie the North American Hockey League game for the last time.
Finger would fire home the game winner about six minutes later. Asmundson was perfect in relief with six saves and the Bruins snapped a three-game losing skid.
Austin Bruins (8-15) travel to Bismarck, N.D., for a pair of games next weekend.
AUSTIN BRUINS 5, ALEXANDRIA 4
Alexandria#0#4#0#—#4
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Austin#2#1#2#—#5
First period— Austin, Trevor Waldoch (Charlie Adams), 2:31 (pp). Austin, Jordan Greenberg (Sam Olson), 16:44.
Second period— Austin, Greenberg, 0:00 (sh). ALX, Thomas Williams (Steve Zierke, Jeff Bergh), 5:04. ALX, Gerald Owen ((Tyler Swanson, Nardo Nagtzaam), 10:26. ALX, Alex Altenbernd (Nagtzaam, Michael Pieper), 17:04 (pp). ALX, Nagtzaam (Pieper, Brent Bain), 18:27 (pp).
Third period— Austin, Olson (Trevor Owens), 9:08. Austin, Jeremy Finger (Owens, Jonathan Gehrt), 15:16.
Shots-on-goal— ALX 9-20-6—35. Austin 6-9-17—32.
Goalies— ALX, Jacob Meyers (6 shots, 4 saves); Jake Williams (26 shots, 23 saves). Austin, Eamon McAdam (29 shots, 25 saves); Keegan Asmundson (6 shots, 6 saves)..
Penalties— ALX 12-40, Austin 12-40.
