Bobcat Weekend Preview: Cats Enter Critical Stretch against Biggest Rivals
Matchups: Bismarck Bobcats (24-19-1, 3rd Central) vs. Aberdeen Wings (20-24-2, 4th Central); Minot Minotauros (28-12-5, 2nd Central)
Games: Friday, February 13, 7:15pm; Saturday, February 14, 7:35pm
Place: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.; Maysa Arena, Minot, N.D.
This Year: Minotauros lead Bobcats 5-2-1; Bobcats lead Wings 7-1-1
All-Time: Bobcats lead Wings 36-13-8; Bobcats lead Minotauros 29-11-4
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, 6:45pm Friday; 7:05pm Saturday
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:45pm Friday; 7:05pm Saturday
BISMARCK, ND — The Bismarck Bobcats' 2014-15 season will hit the three-quarter pole this weekend as the Cats host the Aberdeen Wings Friday before heading up the road to visit the Minot Minotauros Saturday.
With the Robertson Cup Playoffs now visible on the horizon, an eye will turn to the Central Division standings, where the Cats sit firmly between the fourth-place Wings and second-place Tauros.
"This weekend features a couple of huge games," stated Bobcats assistant coach Garrett Roth, "because each night could be a four-point swing with the teams on either side of us in the standings. There are 16 games left in the regular season, so there are only so many chances left to pick up points."
Friday marks the fourth straight contest for the Cats against the Wings; the black and gold have claimed two of the last three, including a 5-2 decision Saturday that clinched the Titan Machinery Dakota Cup.
Aberdeen's high-flying duo of Kyle Haak and Michael Soucier have powered the Wings to two wins in their last three contests with six combined goals.
Minot, meanwhile, has experienced a rare dip of late: enduring a 1-3-1 skid that has dropped the Tauros from first place for the first time since November. The two-game road sweep Minot suffered last weekend against the Minnesota Wilderness marked their first consecutive regulation losses since September 17 and 18–the first two days of the regular season.
The Tauros' top-line duo of Blake Lizotte (12g, 34a) and Christian Mohs (14g, 30a) continue to be the Central's leading scorers with a staggering 90 total points.
Rookie wingers Jared Pike and Jared Turcotte have the hot hands for the Bobcats, with Pike piling up five goals and five assists in 2015 while Turcotte has added two goals and seven assists since New Year's.
Tickets are on sale right now for Friday's home date: fans can buy and print their tickets online 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of round 10 of the Dakota Cup will begin at 6:45pm locally on SuperTalk 1270, KLXX-AM, the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, and worldwide online at NAHL.FASTHockey.com, the official web television partner of the North American Hockey League.
Though the 2014-15 season is over half way through, there is still time to order season tickets for the year; fans who want to lock in their seats for the remainder of the campaign should call the Bobcat office at 222-3300 today!