Bobcats Stumble in Showcase Finale
BLAINE, MN – Two goals allowed in a 34-second span undid the Bismarck Bobcats’ hopes of closing out NAHL Showcase play on a positive note Saturday, as the Minnesota Magicians rallied to top the Cats 3-2 at the Schwan Super Rink.
Holding a 2-1 lead after two periods, the Bobcats saw Minnesota even the score at two just 2:14 into the third as third-year blueliner Travis Brown sailed a snap shot through a double-screen in front of goalie Will Ulrich and in.
Then, at the 2:48 mark, the Magicians took the lead for good at 3-2 when Timo Walther earned a turnover at the Bobcat goal line and cranked a bad-angle shot that bounced in off Ulrich.
Two penalties in the final five minutes would derail any hopes of a comeback for the Cats, as time would expire with the black and gold on a penalty kill to give the Magicians the 3-2 decision.
Minnesota took an early lead in the contest, scoring 6:00 into the first period on the power play when veteran winger Mitch Slattery raced up the right wing and beat Ulrich glove side to make it 1-0 for the former members of the Central Division.
Special teams got the Bobcats back into the game in the middle frame as Pieter von Steinbergs earned his first goal of the year on the power play, lofting a one-timer through traffic and under the cross bar before Magicians netminder Daniil Gerasimov could get a bead on it to tie the score 1-1 with 13:34 left in the period.
With just 1:01 left in the stanza, Zach Kennedy notched a power play goal of his own by slamming home a one-timer off a cross-ice feed from Parker Mismash to lift the Bobcats to the 2-1 advantage they enjoyed prior to Minnesota’s third-period rally.
Ulrich suffered his third loss of the early season despite 31 stops. Gerasimov improved to 2-0-0 on the year on 30 saves.
The Bobcats will look to bounce back Friday when they return home to open a two-game series at the VFW Sports Center against the Austin Bruins.
Tickets for both games of the rivalry weekend are now on sale: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge-by-phone at 222-3300.
Friday’s weekend opener will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270 AM, and worldwide on FASTHockey.com–the web television partner of the North American Hockey League–with pregame coverage starting at 6:45pm.
Season tickets are now on sale for the Bobcats’ landmark platinum anniversary campaign: fans can get more information or reserve their seats for all of Season Twenty now by calling 222-3300.