The Bismarck Bobcats had an interesting scheduling weekend as they were home this past Wednesday against the Minot Minotauros, before hitting the road on Friday and Saturday to take on the Aberdeen Wings.
Looking at Wednesday’s contest, it was all Bobcats in the 1st period as they opened the scoring just three minutes into the 1st period. A shot rang in from the far circle, tipped by Kyle Doll into the back of the net as he notched his 2nd of the season. Minot would get frustrated following that 1st goal, giving the Bobcats a 5 on 3 power play just a minute and a half later. Brendan Ruskowski would snipe home a shot from the base of the near circle on a rebound to give the Bobcats a 2-0 advantage. The Bobcats would then get their 2nd power play strike of the contest with just 5.1 seconds left in the period. Zane Rowan was able to find the back of the net to extend the lead to 3-0.
The 2nd period was great game management by the Bobcats as they held the Minotauros to just 8 shots in the middle frame. No goals were scored and the Bobcats would take the 3-0 lead into the 3rd period of play.
Once again it was all Bismarck for a majority of the 3rd period, holding Minot to just 2 shots on goal up until the 3:30 mark in the 3rd period when the Minotauros pulled their goaltender. Pressure would mount as the Minotauros were able to get some sustained offensive zone time and they would eventually find the back of the net with just 1 minute remaining in the game. However, it was too little too late as the Bobcats skated away with the 3-1 victory.
Moving ahead to Friday’s game in Aberdeen the 1st period was a completely different story. A back and forth contest where it was the Wings striking first just over 5 minutes into the period to give them the 1-0 advantage. The Bobcats would continue to claw their way back as a net front scramble ensued, and the captain Ian Engel, fired one into the back of the net, tying the game at 1 a side. After the goal, the Wings would commit a penalty sending the Bobcats to their first power play of the contest. The Bobcats would convert with just 2 seconds left on the power play as Jakub Kopecky would strike to make it 2-1 Bobcats. The Wings would pressure back in the late stages of the 1st period and score 2 goals in a 1:01 span to send the Wings into the locker room with a 3-2 lead.
The 2nd period the Bobcats responded exactly how they needed to as Chase Reid sniped one into the back of the net, blocker side on Wings goaltender Willum Braun to tie the game up at 3. For the rest of the 2nd period it was a goaltender’s duel as both Tomas Anderson and Braun stopped the remainder of the shots in the middle frame.
In the final frame, the Wings were dominating the offensive zone, pressuring the Bobcats, and getting sustained offensive zone time. However, Matthew Rafalski possessed the puck in the offensive zone along the far circle, sent it on goal, and it deflected off of a defender’s skate in front of the net, beating Braun to give the Bobcats a 4-3 lead. Drew Roelofs would tack on an empty net goal in the last 1:18 of the game to give the Bobcats the 5-3 win.
This was just the 5th time all season that the Bobcats were outshot in a game, as Aberdeen led the shots category 36-30.
Moving to the final contest of the weekend, the Wings and the Bobcats met on Saturday for the finalé of the weekend series.
Both goaltenders from Friday night’s contest would duel in the finalé. The 1st period would be a tale of two halves as the Wings outshot the Bobcats 10-2, but then Bismarck would respond and take momentum from a power play. The 1st period would end 0-0 with shots 13-9 in favor of Aberdeen.
Moving forward into the middle period, the Wings again would play a very physical style of hockey and dominate to start, but it would be Bismarck notching the 1st goal of the contest in the slot off of a deflection to make it 1-0. The Bobcats would commit a penalty just a minute later and the Wings would make no mistake converting on the power play to make it a 1-1 game.
With the game tied going into the 3rd period, the next goal would be paramount. Streaking through the slot the Wings moved into the offensive zone, the initial shot was stopped by Anderson, but the rebound was pounded home by Aberdeen to make it a 2-1 contest. The Bobcats would pressure and try to find the equalizer. Chase Reid had possession at the top of the right wing circle and sent one out to the high slot for Olle Karlsson, but the puck hopped over his stick sending Cade Moxham on a breakaway and the Wings made it a 3-1 game. They would then tack on an empty net goal to seal the deal and beat the Bobcats 4-1.
That was just the 2nd regulation loss for the Bobcats all season. The Bobcats after this weekend moved to 21-2-1 on the season. Their next games are this Friday and Saturday in Watertown against the Shamrocks.
Be sure to tune into the broadcasts this weekend with the Voice of the Bobcats, Brandon Luisi, on NATV or Super Talk 1270.
You can also check out the watch parties at Lucky’s Bar, Tap-In Tavern, Main Bar and Package Store, Stage Stop Saloon and Grill, and Comfort Inn Lounge at the Quality Inn.