Bobcat Weekend Preview: Bobcats Look to Right Ship in Minot Home-and-Home
Matchups: Bismarck Bobcats (9-11-1, 4th Central) vs. Minot Minotauros (12-7-2, 2nd Central)
Games: Friday, November 21, 7:15pm; Saturday, November 22, 7:35pm
Place: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.; Maysa Arena, Minot, N.D.
This Year: Minotauros lead Bobcats 1-0-0
All-Time: Bobcats lead Minotauros 26-7-4
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, 6:45pm Friday; 7:05pm Saturday
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:45pm; 7:05pm Saturday
BISMARCK, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats will play the last of three straight home games Friday at the VFW Sports Center as they open a two-game home-and-home series against the in-state rival Minot Minotauros.
Following a record of 0-1-1 in the first two games of the brief home stand, the Cats will aim to earn a three-game home split of the stretch with the Tauros in town.
Despite the two-game skid, November has already been the Bobcats’ most successful month, posting a 3-1-1 record over the last five games; the Cats had six points in both September (3-2-0) and October (3-7-0)
In the only previous installment of the Battle of US-83, Minot withstood multiple equalizing rallies from the Bobcats to cling to a 6-4 win on October 30 in the state capital.
Minot’s opportunistic style plagued the hosts in that meeting: five of the Tauros’ six goals in the game came as a result of transition chances or turnovers.
“Puck security is a big key, as is the way we play in our defensive zone,” noted Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, “and with how strong they [Minot] are on the rush, that means we have to be responsible with backchecking and neutral zone responsibilities, too.”
Rookie phenom Blake Lizotte leads the Tauros—and the rest of the Central Division—in scoring with 22 points (7g, 15a) and was named the division’s Star of the Week on Monday after a three goal, one assist weekend.
Veteran winger Cullen Willox continues to top the Bobcats’ scoring list with 20 points (8g, 12a), despite missing last Saturday’s contest with an ankle injury. With eight tallies in his last eight games, Willox’s fellow captain Evan Giesler has seized the team’s goal-scoring lead with 11 markers.
Tickets are now on sale for Friday’s home tilt are on sale now: fans can buy and print their tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of the rivalry showdown will begin Friday at 6:45pm locally on SuperTalk 1270, KLXX-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.
Though the 2014-15 season is now under way, there is still time to order season tickets for the year; fans who want to lock in their seats for the entire campaign should call the Bobcat office at 222-3300 today!
