Lehr notches shutout as Bruins top Minot
Published 10:12 pm Friday, February 28, 2014
Austin Bruins goalie Nick Lehr stops a shot by Minot’s Michael Louria (15) during the first period Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
It’s been quite the week for Austin Bruin goalie Nick Lehr.
Austin’s Easton Viitala plays recovers the puck in Minot’s zone during the second period Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Lehr committed to play hockey for the Minnesota Gophers on Wednesday and he stopped all 30 of the shots he saw in a 2-0 win for the Bruins over Minot (20-28-3 overall) in Riverside Arena Friday.
Lehr now has six shutouts this season for Austin (31-17-1 overall).
Lehr made plenty of big saves and he even had a little luck on his side as the Minotauros had a shot deflect off the post with a minute to go in the game.
“I made sure to thank my post,” Lehr said. “Committing was kind of a relief after three years of working. I just wanted to go out and have a good game and the guys played good in front of me.”
The Bruins opened the game strong as Guillaume Leclerc found Lucas Kohls for a goal with just under four minutes into the first period and Leclerc scored a goal of his own with eight seconds left in the first when he fired a slap shot against the grain into the back of the net.
Austin’s second period left a lot to be desired as it was outshot 17-10 in the period.
“We took the whole second period off and with ten minutes to go in the third period we started putting pucks at the net,” Austin assistant coach Jamie Huffman said. “It’s a real simple game, put pucks at the net, go hard to the blue area and good things will happen.”
The Bruins are now 22-3 at home and they lead second place Bismarck by five points in the NAHL Central Division with 10 games to play. Austin’s Eli May said the team can play better than it did on Friday.
“We didn’t come out very well and we definitely did not play the game we wanted to play,” he said. “We won two points and as long as we got the ‘W’ that’s all that matters for us. It was good for us, but we’ve always got better.”
Lehr said the squad has been regrouping since its roster was thinned out in Alaska.
“We had a lot of guys injured and some suspensions and guys are falling back into place here,” Lehr said. “It’s just putting the puzzle back together before the playoffs.”
Austin’s Guillaume Leclerk smiles after scoring in the first period against Minot Friday in Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
SCORING SUMMARY
Minot 0 0 0 — 0
Austin 2 0 0 — 2
(A) Lucas Kohls (Guillaume Leclerc) 3:48
(A) Leclerc (Josh Bretner) 19:52
Second period
No scoring
Third period
No scoring
Shots: Austin — 34; Minot — 30
Power plays: Austin — 0-for-4; MInot — 0-for-5
