Bobcats Go 0-1-1 in Aberdeen

The Bismarck Bobcats hit the road once again to take on the Aberdeen Wings at the Odde Ice Center for a two-game set.

The Bobcats started out the contest on Friday firing as they outshot the Wings 12-7 in the first 20 minutes. The Cats would open the scoring with 5 and a half minutes remaining as Noah Ziskie wristed the puck just past the blue line past Willum Braun to make it a 1-0 hockey game. Bismarck would add on just a couple minutes later as George Poirier would find the back of the net on a net-front scramble to double the lead. The Bobcats would take the 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.    

The 2nd period was where things fell apart for the Bobcats. Just 2 minutes in, the Wings pulled within one on a shot from the left-wing circle. Just 2 minutes later, Matthew Martin would strike on a breakaway to tie the game up at 2 and then Martin once again just a couple minutes later would give the Wings a 3-2 lead. In a span of 5:41 the Bobcats’ lead evaporated and Aberdeen had control. Bismarck would fight back at the end of the period as Fanda Broz worked net-front to tie the game up at 3 on a great feed from Ben Rakowski. The game would enter the 3rd period knotted at 3.        

Both teams knew that the next goal would be huge, and unfortunately for the Cats, they conceded just over 4 minutes into the period, courtesy of a ripper from the slot from Cooper Anderson. From then on, the Wings did an incredible job of defending the Bobcats and limiting their chances. Aberdeen would get the dagger with just under 4 minutes left on a D-Zone breakdown and get the victory 5-3.

Marko Bilic stopped 26/31 in the loss. 

Moving ahead to Saturday’s contest, neither team would strike in the opening period as the Bobcats once again would have a strong opening 20 minutes outshooting Aberdeen 10-6. 

The 2nd period saw the Wings open the scoring just under 4 minutes in. Jonathan Doucette waltzed into the slot, toe dragged around Bilic and dumped it into the empty net just 5 seconds into the power play to make it a 1-0 contest. However, the Bobcats made sure to respond quickly as Jimmy Dodig rifled one past Adam Dybal to make it a 1-1 hockey game just a couple of minutes later. The offense would slow down and the game would enter the 3rd tied.   

The 3rd period was a goaltending spectacle. Bilic would make multiple 10-bell saves to keep the game tied and force OT. The Bobcats were outshot 7-4 in the 3rd period. 

Moving to the overtime period, the Bobcats would head to the penalty kill, which would end up being their demise. While the Bobcat penalty killers did an amazing job blocking shots, but Anderson would strike with 30 seconds on the kill to give the Wings the 2-1 victory in OT and the weekend sweep. 

Bilic was incredible in net stopping 28/30 in the OTL.

The Cats will be back on home ice next weekend to take on the Watertown Shamrocks. Tickets are available at tickets.bismarckbobcats.com