ABERDEEN, SD — The Bismarck Bobcats saw their five-game win streak go by the boards in resounding fashion Saturday, falling to the Aberdeen Wings by a 6-1 final at Odde Arena.
Saturday night\’s contest started with a roar for the Wings, who jumped out front just 6:50 into the game when C.J. Pullar bounced a rolling one-timer off Bobcats goalie Ryan Faragher to quickly make it 1-0 for the home side.
Wings captain James Rudi Pino made it 2-0 on the power play with 8:43 left in the period, wristing a bad-angle shot over Faragher\’s glove.
Aberdeen\’s Nils Semjonovs got a late goal in the first, getting a fortuitous hop off Faragher\’s glove to extend the home side\’s lead to 3-0 with 2:58 left in the opening frame.
Bryce Schmitt got the Bobcats on the board with 8:02 left in the second, finding a seam behind the Wings defense and slamming a low shot between goalie Hunter Leisner\’s legs to make it 3-1.
The Aberdeen power play, unfortunately, snuffed out any hope the Cats maybe have harbored for a rally when Tyler Underhill powered home a Paul Prescott rebound to restore the Wings\’ three-goal lead at 4-2 with 6:10 left in the middle frame.
Pino put the game out of reach early in the third period with his second goal of the night and third of the weekend, converting a neutral zone turnover by the Cats into a 5-1 lead just 4:24 into the final stanza.
Brenden Gust put the finishing touches on the Bobcats\’ worst loss of 2010-11, deflecting a transition shot off Faragher with 2:47 left in the game for the final 6-1 margin.
Leisner made 33 saves to improve to 8-8-1 on the year while Faragher made 32 stops but suffered his fifth loss of 2010-11.
The Bobcats return home to try and get back to their winning ways against the team with whom they are now tied for first place–the archrival Owatonna Express–with a two-game home series next Friday and Saturday nights at the VFW Sports Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 PM both evenings.
Both games 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 will begin both Friday and Saturday at 6:45 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