Repensky’s Winner Lifts Bobcats in Overtime
ABERDEEN, SD – The Bismarck Bobcats emerged victorious 2-1 in a defensive battle with the Aberdeen Wings, picking up a power play goal from Nate Repensky in overtime to secure a two-game sweep of the Wings Saturday at Odde Ice Center.
With the victory, the Bobcats extended their lead over the Wings for the Titan Machinery Dakota Cup to 14-4 with four games remaining in the season series, clinching their third consecutive Dakota Cup over Aberdeen.
“We have such a great rivalry with the Wings, so being able to clinch the Dakota Cup is a nice feather in the cap for our guys,” stated Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie. “Our main regular season goals are to make the playoffs and try and clinch home ice through the divisional rounds, of course, but we know the Dakota Cup is special—especially to our fans.”
Neither team could break through in the first period as goalies Aaron Nelson and Chad Catt combined for 25 saves for the Bobcats and Wings, respectively, in the opening frame.
Stanislav Dzakhov pushed the Bobcats ahead 1-0 just 2:40 into the second, twisting the puck through traffic, past Catt and inside the far post for his fifth goal in 12 games.
“There was so much traffic, I didn’t even know that I scored right away,” admitted Dzakhov, who came to the Bobcats in a late-December trade. “I just wanted to get the puck to the net because we wanted to get as many shots as we could on [Catt].”
Aberdeen caught a bit of good fortune 2:24 later when a centering effort from Wings forward Zach Kraft bounced off the skates of a Bobcat defender near the goal crease and in past Nelson, tying the game at one.
In the third, the Bobcats turned up the heat on Catt and the Wings—outshooting Aberdeen 17-7 in the final frame—but could not get one past the Wings netminder.
With 35 seconds left in regulation, Bobcat blueliner Chris Diver drew a high-sticking penalty on Aberdeen defender J.D. Cotroneo. Though the Cats could not score before overtime, they were able to start the extra frame with 1:25 of power play time.
Repensky needed only 21 seconds of the remaining power play balance, ending the game on a rising slap shot through traffic that beat Catt stick side, delivering the Bobcats a 2-1 road win.
Nelson secured his 16th win of the season, turning aside 32 of 33 attempts on net. Catt suffered the hard-luck loss despite 44 saves.
The Bobcats will wrap up their four-game road swing Friday with an 8:05 PM tilt at Maysa Arena against the Minot Minotauros before returning home Saturday with a 7:15 PM rematch with Minot.
Tickets for Saturday’s game are on sale by calling the Bobcat Box Office at 222-3300; fans can buy and print tickets online right now at BismarckBobcats.com.
Friday’s intrastate showdown will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide on the official internet television partner of the NAHL, FASTHockey, at http://nahl.fasthockey.com. Pregame coverage gets under way at 7:35 PM.
Pro-rated season tickets for the 2012-13 season are now on sale—and going fast! Call the Bobcat Hockey office today at (701) 222-3300 to reserve your seats for another great season of Championship Entertainment.