MASON CITY, Iowa — The adage goes like this: it is not about how you start, but how you finish.
In the Bobcats’ series opener against North Iowa Friday, the Bulls scored in the opening five minutes en route to never trailing in a 6-4 win.
Saturday at the Mason City Arena, the home team had put up two goals by that five-minute mark. This time, the Bobcats did not save their response for the late stages.
Adam Pietila, Drew Holt, and Quinn Rudrud collaborated on a three-goal run spanning 22 minutes to give Bismarck a 3-2 lead in the second period. The lead wound up lasting fewer than four minutes.
In a hockey game of runs, North Iowa had the last–and longest–streak of he night. The Bulls scored four straight to reclaim the lead, pad it, and clinch a series sweep in Mason City. The Bobcats (3-12-1) did not score in the final 31 minutes of the 6-3 loss.
Pietila’s (Howell, Mich.) two-goal weekend vaulted him into the Cats’ team lead in goals with five. Four teammates are tied with four goals each behind him.
Aksel Reid stopped 10 of 14 shots in the game. Erik Forss made 10 saves on 12 shots against in relief.
GAME SUMMARY
Shots on goal: Bismarck 23, North Iowa 26
Power plays: Bismarck 0/2, North Iowa 0/3
1st period
North Iowa goal: Carter Rapalje from Michael Mesic, 3:50
North Iowa goal: Greg Japchen from Ryan Coughlin and Chris Carroll, 4:39
Bismarck goal: Adam Pietila from Jonathan Ziskie and Trevor Mitchell, 6:06
2nd period
Bismarck goal: Drew Holt from Isaac Novak and Chase Beacom, 4:51
Bismarck goal: Quinn Rudrud from Jake McLean and Calvin Hanson, 8:25
North Iowa goal: Anthony Domina from Joey Potter and Byron Hartley, 11:12
North Iowa goal: Michael Mesic from Carter Rapalje and Jack Mesic, 12:26
North Iowa goal: Max Scott from Ryan Coughlin and Chris Carroll, 15:40
3rd period
North Iowa goal: Hunter Bulger from Anthony Domina, 5:32