Rally Falls Short as Cats Drop Showcase Finale
BLAINE, MN – For the fourth straight game, the Bismarck Bobcats found themselves behind after one period and could not fully recover, falling 4-2 to the Coulee Region Chill Saturday at the Schwan Super Rink.
With the loss, the Cats went winless at the Showcase for the first time since going 0-2-2 in 2009.
It was the Bobcats who scored first Saturday, though, as rookie Luke Picek led a 3-on-2 rush up the left wing before firing a bad-angle backhand that banked in off Coulee Region goalie Hunter Vorva 2:30 into the game for a quick 1-0 lead.
Coulee Region dialed up a big answer to Picek’s first career goal just over halfway through the first, however, getting back-to-back breakaway goals from Isaac Theisen and Phil Erickson in a 53-second span to seize a 2-1 advantage after one.
Theisen doubled the lead to 3-1 just 1:03 into the second, blasting a low shot that deflected off Bobcat defender Nick Wallace and in past netminder Hunter Shepard.
Just 1:55 later, veteran forward Alex Strand pulled the Cats back within one at 3-2, redirecting a centering pass from Harrison Aide inside the right post for his first tally of the season.
The remainder of the second period saw the Bobcats compile numerous scoring chances, but none could find the back of the net.
In the third, the Cats continued to throw the kitchen sink at Coulee Region, but Vorva denied all 16 shots that came his way in the frame.
Chill captain Michael Wilson put the finishing touches on the game for Coulee Region with 2:38 to go in the game, slamming home a one-timer from Collin Appleton for the final 4-2 score.
Shepard dropped his third straight decision despite 21 saves; Vorva secured his first win on 32 stops.
The Bobcats now get a much-needed six days of rest before their first intrastate showdown against the archrival Minot Minotauros Saturday at the VFW Sports Center.
Tickets for the first installment of the Battle of US-83 are now on sale: fans can buy and print their tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm by calling 222-3300.
Saturday’s rivalry slugfest will be broadcast live on locally SuperTalk 1270 AM, the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, and worldwide online at NAHL.FASTHockey.com—the official web television partner of the North American Hockey League—with pregame coverage starting at 6:45pm.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2015-16 campaign; if you want to beat the rush of 40,000 fans for this season, now is the time! Call 222-3300 today to reserve your seats.