Bobcats Face Mid-Week Test as Aberdeen Visits
Matchup: Bismarck Bobcats (31-16-3, 2nd Central) vs Aberdeen Wings (20-22-10, 4th Central)
Game: Tuesday, March 15, 7:15pm
Venue: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
Season Series: Bobcats lead Wings 10-0-0
All-Time: Bobcats lead Wings 44-14-10
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, SuperTalk1270.com and the radioPup smartphone app, 6:45pm
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:45pm
BISMARCK, ND – With just ten games remaining in the 2015-16 regular season, the Bismarck Bobcats return home Tuesday to face the rising Aberdeen Wings at the VFW Sports Center in the midst of a wild playoff chase.
Fresh off a pair of post-regulation setbacks at Austin on the weekend, the Bobcats (31-16-3, 65 pts) suddenly find themselves two points back of Minot (31-17-5, 67 pts) for the top spot in the Central Division. Aberdeen (20-22-10, 50 pts), meanwhile, has popped off a 3-1-1 mark in their last five games to claim a solid three-point lead for the division’s fourth and final playoff spot over Minnesota (20-25-7, 47 pts).
While the Bobcat defense has remained solid—tied for the fewest goals allowed per game in the Central Division in March at 1.75—the offense has gone silent: accounting for just six goals in four games this month amid a 1-1-2 slide.
Goalie Hunter Shepard has steadied the team’s defense, posting a 1.42 GAA in his last nine appearances with a .938 SV% en route to an NAHL-best 29 wins—tied with Fairbanks’ Gavin Nieto for victories.
Aberdeen, on the other hand, has taken a big leap forward offensively in March, averaging 3.20 goals per game—led by Fargo natives Tyler Bossert and Jackson Graalum, who have combined for five goals and four assists in the Wings’ 3-1-1 run.
Wings netminder Peter Thome has been a fixture among the league’s goaltending leaders, as well: sitting second SV% at .930 and third in both games played (40) and minutes (2401:28).
Tickets for Tuesday’s mid-week tilt are now on sale: fans can buy and print tickets online at BismarckBobcats.com, by clicking “Shop Now” on the team Facebook page or charge-by-phone at 222-3300.
Tuesday’s edition 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 6:35pm.
Now that the Bobcats are in the playoffs, now is the time to reserve your 2016-17 season tickets! All new season ticket buyers will receive Playoff Priority for the Cats’ 2016 Robertson Cup Playoff. Fans can call 222-3300 starting later this coming week to reserve their seats and get Playoff Priority.