Bobcats Erase Third Period Deficit to Sweep Wings
ABERDEEN, SD – Down two goals over half-way through the third period, the Bismarck Bobcats summoned a mighty comeback, scoring twice to force overtime then getting the game-winner from Aaron Herdt 64 seconds into the extra frame to shock the Aberdeen Wings 3-2 Saturday at the Odde Ice Center.
Facing a 2-0 deficit in the final stanza, the Bobcats finally broke the spell of Wings netminder Peter Thome with 9:35 to go on a Harrison Aide one-time blast on the power play that rocketed in over Thome’s glove to cut the score to 2-1.
Just 34 seconds later, the score was tied when Herdt lined a low one-timer through a screen set by Cole Souto to silence the 1,311 partisans with his first of the night.
Despite conceding twice to lose the lead, the Wings did not falter: over the final nine-plus minutes, Aberdeen out-shot the visitors 7-3—after the Cats held a 15-2 edge in shots in the period’s first 10:59—but Bobcat goalie Hunter Shepard made save after save to send the game to overtime.
In bonus hockey, Herdt took a long clear-out pass from Joe Tyran into the right-wing circle and fired a rising snap shot over Thome’s glove and in to end the game in the Bobcats’ favor at 3-2.
Following a scoreless first period, Aberdeen put together a flawless second: outshooting the Cats 19-10 and getting goals in a 3:56 span from Kyle Siemers and Austin Heakins to give the Wings their largest lead of the year against the Cats at 2-0
Prior to Saturday, the Bobcats had been 0-9-1 on the year when trailing after 40 minutes.
Shepard dazzled, compiling 35 saves to improve to 19-8-0; Thome was equally impressive with 32 stops but dropped his second decision of the weekend.
With the win, the Bobcats clinch the best winning percentage in the Central Division ahead of Tuesday’s standings freeze, guaranteeing the Cats five players at February’s NAHL Top Prospects Tournament at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.
It also means that Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie will serve as the head coach for Team Central—the two-time reigning champion of the league’s highly scouted all-star summit—for the third time (2011, 2012).
Now the Cats get a six-day respite before opening a season-high seven-game home stand when they welcome the Wings to the VFW Sports Center on Saturday, January 23, for a 7:15pm rematch.
Tickets are now on sale for Saturday’s standalone contest: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com, by clicking “Shop Now” on the team Facebook page or by calling 222-3300.
Saturday’s iteration of the Titan Machinery Dakota Cup will be broadcast live 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—with pregame coverage starting at 6:45pm.
Season tickets are still on sale for the 2015-16 season at a pro-rated price; if you want to beat the rush of over 40,000 fans for this year, now is the time! Call 222-3300 to reserve your seats today.
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