MASON CITY, IA – The Bismarck Bobcats made a two-goal second period stand up Saturday, outlasting the North Iowa Outlaws for a 3-2 win at North Iowa Ice Arena.
The victory improved the Bobcats’ to 80 points in the standings with a record of 36-11-8.
Sean McKenzie opened the scoring for the ‘Cats, driving home a Tyler Klein rebound past Outlaw netmidner Paul Moberg with 4:54 left in the first period for a 1-0 Bobcat edge.
That lead, however, would be short-lived as three and a half minutes later, Outlaw team captain Ryan Bohrer tapped a Zac Frischmon rebound in to force a 1-1 tie with 1:24 remaining in the first.
“Bohrer is a great player,” said Bobcats goaltender Jake Williams, who made 25 saves Saturday. “I think that gets lost because North Iowa has fallen into last place, but he really makes things happen out there for [the Outlaws].”
The game did not remain tied for long as the Bobcats struck just 33 seconds into the middle frame when Gavin Hartzog threaded a back-door pass to a streaking Tom McCarthy for a one-time goal to restore the visitors’ lead at 2-1.
Former Outlaw Tyler Klein increased the Bobcats’ advantage to 3-1 with 5:08 left in the second, firing home a one-time shot off a pass from Sam Rendle to finish a 4-on-1 transition rush.
North Iowa’s Connor Gaarder brought the Outlaws back to within one goal, bouncing a snap shot off Williams’ shoulder and into the Bobcat net 4:38 into the third to make it 3-2 Bobcats—but the Outlaws would not find the equalizer.
The Bobcat defense and forecheck stymied the North Iowa side over the course of the final 15-plus minutes of the game to give Williams his 11th win in net on the year and ninth in black and gold.
Moberg finished with 36 saves, including two breakaway stops on Klein and Tim Serratore, but couldn’t avoid taking his 22nd loss on the 2009-10 campaign.
The game featured very few whistles, finishing in two hours and five minutes—the shortest contest of the year for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats will play their final away game Sunday as they wrap up their two-game road series with the Outlaws with a 7:30 PM puck drop.
Sunday’s game will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide at BismarckBobcats.com via B2 Networks. The pre-game show starts at 7:00 PM.
You won\’t want to miss any of the games this season, so order your pro-rated Season Tickets, Family Packs and Group Nights today by calling the Bobcat Hockey Office at 701-222-3300 or by e-mailing the office for more information at gobobcathockey@aol.com.
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