Bobcats Split Hard-Fought Weekend in Minot

The Bismarck Bobcats hit the road once again to take on the Minot Minotauros at Maysa Arena for the final two meetings in the regular season in Minot. 

The Bobcats would open the scoring in the 1st period while on the man advantage Friday Night. Oscar Jonsson possessed the puck along the goal line and tucked the puck off the defenseman’s skate and into the back of the net to make it a 1-0 game in favor of the Bobcats. The period proved to be a dominant frame for the Bobcats as they would take the 1-0 lead into the intermission and outshoot Minot 13-7.    

The 2nd period saw a similar dominance to start for the Bobcats, but Chase Anderson stood tall for Minot keeping the score 1-0. Minot would respond on the man advantage with 6 minutes remaining in the middle frame to tie the game at 1. This would bring a bit of life into the Tauros bench, as with just 17 seconds left in the period the Tauros would tally once again to take a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission.        

The Cats would be forced to kill an extended 5 on 3 to start the period, however, a minute later, Dennis Lominac streaked down the left wing, burned around the defender and shot five-hole on Anderson to tie the game at 2. It took Bismarck just 3 minutes after that to regain the lead as Noah Ziskie fed Cooper Williams cutting through the slot who deflected the puck into the back of the net to make it a 3-2 game in favor of the Cats. If you thought the drama ended there, you’d be wrong. 2 minutes later, the Tauros would tie the game on a deflected shot from Dane Ramirez. With it being a brand new hockey game, the offense slowed down until about 6 minutes remaining when Minot would regain the lead 4-3. With their backs against the wall, the Bobcats on the power play would strike with just over a minute remaining. It was George Poirier in his 150th career NAHL game, slapping home a one-timer to make it a 4-4 hockey game and send it to overtime. 

The Bobcats, as their power play expired in overtime were able to find the back of the net as Eddie Revenig unloaded a howitzer from the top of the right-wing circle giving the Bobcats the extra point.

Dane Callaway stopped 20/24 in the victory and earned his 13th win on the season. 

Moving ahead to Saturday’s contest, it would be the Tauros capitalizing off a slow start from the Bobcats as Minot tallied on the power play, less than 3 minutes in to make it 1-0. The Bobcats would get some life midway through the 1st period, but were unsuccessful in finding the back of the net. Minot would take the 1-0 lead into the intermission, despite being outshot 15-10. 

The 2nd period saw the Cats respond nearly immediately on the power play as Jonsson notched his 2nd in as many nights to tie the game up at 1. Bismarck was unable to follow the goal up as the Tauros struck less than 2 minutes later to regain the lead. The scoring would slow down until the late stages of the 2nd where Minot would tally within the last 2 minutes to take the 3-1 lead into the 2nd intermission.    

Moving to the 3rd period, the Bobcats needed to get one quickly, and just under 7 minutes in, Ben Rakowski delivered as he deflected the puck into the back of the net to make it a 3-2 contest. Jonsson would follow it up with his 2nd of the contest, on the power play once again to tie the game up at 3 midway through the contest. Just like last night, the game would require overtime. 

With about 3 minutes remaining, the Bobcats lapsed in defensive coverage allowing Ty James to walk right into the slot and tap the game-winner into the back of the net, giving Minot the 4-3 victory.

The Cats will hit the road next weekend to take on the Aberdeen Wings at the Odde Ice Center. Head down to our Road Watch Party Locations to catch the action!