BISMARCK, N.D.–The Bismarck Bobcats have been one of the league’s more disciplined teams with taking penalties, averaging just over four minor infractions per game. A pair of penalties, one of which resulted in a goal against, stung the Bobcats in a 3-1 loss to the Aberdeen Wings at the VFW Sports Center on Saturday.
Patrick Johnson, Bismarck’s co-captain, stole a puck on the forecheck and quickly tucked it inside the post to tie the contest at 1-1 with 2:48 remaining in the second period. The penalty trouble started soon after.
Michael Neumeier took a slashing call with 1:18 left in the period, and that time carried over into the third. The Bobcats killed it off, only to take another penalty, an Adam Pietila slash, nine seconds later. Aberdeen scored on the ensuing power play, then struck again a minute later to take a seemingly instantaneous 3-1 lead.
“To me, it is just an undisciplined penalty that cost us the game,” head coach Layne Sedevie said. “Last night in the third, we came out and executed. Tonight, we do a good job at the start to kill a penalty off. We take an undisciplined one right after, and it cost us the game.”
The Bobcats and Wings played a pair of evenly matched hockey games with both teams receiving numerous transition opportunities and odd-man rushes. Each side recorded 26 shots on goal on Saturday. However, after Aberdeen grabbed momentum in the third, the Bobcats could not seize it back.
“Some of our details were kind of in-and-out,” Sedevie said. “We were more consistent last night … other than (an Aberdeen breakaway late in the second period), I did not mind how we defended.”
How well did the Bobcats defend aside from the aforementioned one-minute stretch? The Wings’ power play goal was the only special teams strike all series. The Bismarck offense had their chances, too. Brandon Reller and Erik Atchison each had breakaways, both of which were denied. Luke Roelofs hit the crossbar on a point shot.
The Bobcats enter their second and final bye week of the season–excluding the holiday break in two weeks–with a record of 10-12-3. The team’s next home game is December 17th, the annual Teddy Bear Toss night against the Minot Minotauros. Tickets are on sale now at tickets.bismarckbobcats.com.