BLAINE, MN – It took overtime to decide Friday’s battle of 2-0 teams at the 2010 Sherbrook NAHL Showcase, but the Bismarck Bobcats fell in the extra period 3-2 to the Wichita Falls Wildcats to bring a quick end to the defending champs’ season-opening unbeaten string.
The Bobcats tallied the game’s first goal on the power play as Frank DeAugustine poked home a Nikolaj Murholt Rosenthal rebound past the outstretched blocker of Wildcat goaltender Brian Jones with 8:07 left in the first to post the ‘Cats to a 1-0 lead.
That lead would last just 5:28 past the first intermission as, at the tail-end of a Tom Rizzardo double-minor penalty, Wildcat forward Tom Yudez rolled a blind backhand through traffic and past screened-out Bobcat netminder Ryan Faragher to knot the score at 1-1.
In a lightning-quick response, the Bobcats struck just 17 seconds later as Dan Zawacki threaded a 2-on-1 feed to Charlie Mosey, who jammed in his own rebound after his initial attempt was denied by Jones to put the ‘Cats back up by a score of 2-1.
Wichita Falls, however, gained another equalizer late in the second when Tanner Fahlstedt streaked up the right side of the Bobcats zone on a 2-on-1 and, while dekeing to his left, ripped a high blast past Faragher’s glove to force another tie at 2-2 with 6:39 left in the middle frame.
The two sides battled through a thrilling-yet-scoreless third period, setting up each team’s first foray into overtime on the young 2010-11 season.
The Bobcats started bonus hockey on the penalty kill thanks to a late elbowing call assessed to Rizzardo at the end of regulation. The overtime “PK” didn’t last very long, though, as the Wildcats struck just 50 seconds into overtime as Fahlstedt banged home a loose puck off a blocked shot in the Bismarck zone to boost Wichita Falls to the 3-2 victory.
Faragher took the OT loss on 20 saves for the ‘Cats, falling to 1-0-1; Jones picked up the W in his NAHL debut, stealing the show with an eye-popping 54 saves to preserve the win for the Wildcats.
The Cats will wrap up Showcase play on Saturday with a 3:30 PM face off against 2010 North Division finalist Motor City at Schwan Super Rink.
The contest will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide at http://nahl.fasthockey.com/. Pre-game coverage for the game will begin at3:00 PM CT.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2010-11 season! Call the Bobcat Hockey office at (701) 222-3300 or email gobobcathockey@aol.com for more information on reserving your seats for the entire season as the Bobcats look to defend the Robertson Cup!
BOBCAT HOCKEY
2010 ROBERTSON CUP CHAMPIONS