BROOKINGS – Chase Springman scored on a power play off an assist from Reid Stefanson – his third of the game – with 7:36 remaining as the Minotauros clinched the top seed in the NAHL Central Division by defeating the Blizzard 3-2 on Saturday night at Larson Ice Center.
Minot scored the game’s first two goals.
Alex Adams’ 27th tally of the season came on a power play with 1:16 to go in the first period. Stefanson and Derek Frentz were credited with assists – the latter picking up his 37th helper of the year.
Frentz lit the lamp at the 15:20 mark of the second as Stefanson and Charles Weiand assisted.
Brookings rallied midway through the third period.
Paul Cotter found the back of the net for the 26th time this season with 10:54 showing on the clock. Carson Kosobud and Cade Borchardt assisted on the power-play goal.
Brendan Stanko pulled the Blizzard even 45 seconds later on assists from Nicholas Cardelli – his 30th of the year – and Taylor Schneider.
Minot finished 2-for-5 on the power play, while Brookings was 1-for-4.
Lucas Murray made 44 saves to earn the win between the pipes. Josh Boyko stopped 33 shots in the loss.
Fourth-place Brookings (27-24-4-1, 59 points), which has dropped four consecutive games, plays host to fifth-place Bismarck (27-27-1-1, 56 points) on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
The Blizzard currently lead the Bobcats by three points for the final playoff spot in the division.
NAHL Central Division
GP W-L-OTL-SOL Pts.
y-Minot 56 36-16-4-0 76
x-MN Wilderness 56 30-20-4-2 66
Aberdeen 56 28-23-3-2 61
Brookings 56 27-24-4-1 59
Bismarck 56 27-27-1-1 56
e-Austin 56 21-27-2-5 49
y-clinched division
x-clinched playoff berth
e-eliminated from playoff contention
Note: The regular season is 60 games.
