Written by: Brian Gornick, Bobcats Content Writer
Only twelve games remain in the regular season for the Bismarck Bobcats, and they’re facing down a stretch of games with massive implications for the postseason.
The Bobcats will have a home stand against the Austin Bruins this weekend following a series split last week, which saw the Bobcats reclaim the lead in the Central Division. The Bruins only sit a point behind the Bobcats in the standings with a game in hand, and these two games will be crucial in keeping the lead on the division.
Following this series is two weekends facing the St. Cloud Norsemen. The Norsemen are currently sitting at fourth place in the division with 54 points, but are trailed close behind by the Aberdeen Wings at 52 points. They can’t be overlooked by the Bobcats, as they’ll undoubtedly bring their best.
Two more weekend series against the North Iowa Bulls and Minnesota Mallards seems like future wins for the Bobcats, but they can’t fall into the trap of looking ahead to the final series of the regular season. There’s the possibility that the Bobcats and rival Minot Minotauros will be playing for the Central Division title April 11 and 12. Like the Bruins, the Tauros are only one point back from tying the Bobcats in points, and have kept pace throughout the season.
The Bobcats, of course, have some things going in their favor. The Bruins and Tauros will face each other two separate weekends in the end of March whilst the Bobcats are playing the Bulls and Mallards. In past matchups this season, the Tauros and Bruins have swept eachother once each. With a bit of luck, the Bobcats can hold onto the top of the division and put some distance between the Bruins and Tauros with both taking points from each other.
For Bobcats players, beating the Tauros for the Central Division title would be a welcome bit of revenge for them. Any Bobcats fans knows how last season ended, falling 1-3 in the divisional finals against them in the playoffs. It would undoubtedly be better to face the Norsemen or the Wings in the first round of the postseason than the Bruins or Tauros, making it all the more important that the Bobcats don’t become the odd team out in this three-team race to the finish line.