The Bottineau-Rugby Braves closed out 2021 with 5-2 hockey loss against Bismarck Legacy’s Sabres in Bismarck Dec. 30.

Although the Braves came up short in the end of the three-period battle, their defenders carried them through much of the game when they found ways to wear down a Sabre goalie on one of his best days of the season so far.

Bismarck’s Tyler Miller saved 28 of 30 shots, at times with Braves swarming around him.

Bottineau-Rugby’s Easton Freeman logged 27 of 31 saves. Bismarck Legacy forward Marcus Butts shot an empty net goal late in the game.

The game’s first period that saw shot after shot by the Braves denied by Miller. It also saw power play opportunities presented by Sabres fade for the Braves. Just over one minute into the game, Sabres forward Lucas Vasey shot the first goal of a hat trick, assisted by Easton Moos. Next, a shot by Sabres forward Elliot Houn took a lucky bounce off Freeman’s glove for goal number two. Vacey shot the Sabres third goal before the period ended, assisted by Moos.

The Braves took the ice for the second period determined to fight back. The Sabres stood just one spot above Bottineau-Rugby in the West Region before the game, and the Braves had their eyes on third place. The Sabres stood in their way.

Braves forward Macen Heisler continued a flurry of shots he’d begun in the first period. However, Miller seemed to have his number. Vacey made attempts at a second period hat trick as well, but he found his shots denied by Freeman.

The Braves upped their pressure on Miller, swarming the Bismarck-Legacy goal. With assistance from Braves forward Alex Lorenz, defender Dylan Bartsch landed the puck past Miller, whose attention was on the melee in front of his net.

Another one of five Sabres penalties followed, but a Braves power point goal failed to materialize. Still, the period ended with a goal scored by the Braves and the Sabres held to a two-point lead.

The Braves kept their determination in the third period, swarming Sabres territory again. Forward Ethan Siemens landed Bottineau-Rugby’s second goal, shooting past Miller with assistance by forwards Colton Getzlaff and Gabe Glasner. 

Miller and the Sabres put the brakes on the Braves’ offense. More than 10 minutes into the game, Vacey scored his hat trick, assisted by Butts and forward Josiah Will. The Braves saw their hope to overtake the Sabres fade. Bottineau-Rugby decided to take a risk with an extra player on the ice, leaving the net open for a fifth Sabres goal.

The Braves moved on to face the Williston Coyotes Jan. 4 at home on the ice in Rugby’s Al Wentz Arena. Bottineau-Rugby had defeated the Coyotes just two weeks before in Williston Dec. 21. Results from the Jan. 4 game will appear in next week’s Tribune.