Second Period Surge Thwarted as Bobcats Fall Short in Aberdeen
ABERDEEN, SD – Despite a dominant second period effort, the Bismarck Bobcats could not recover from an early deficit, falling 4-1 to the Aberdeen Wings Friday at Odde Ice Center.
Playing even with the surging Wings—winners of seven straight coming into the weekend—through the first 14 minutes of the game, the Bobcats fell behind 2-0 heading into the first intermission when third-year forward Tyler Bossert scored twice in a span of 3:07, including a shorthanded tally.
Just 1:56 into the second, deadline acquisition Logan Jenuwine stretched the Aberdeen edge to 3-0, striking on the rush for his fourth goal in three games with the Wings.
Co-captain Zach Kennedy kept the Bobcats in striking distance 3:01 after Jenuwine’s marker, grabbing a Jordan Fralich pass off the end wall on the power play and stuffing it through the legs of Aberdeen netminder Forbes Ploszaj to cut the score to 3-1.
Following Kennedy’s 10th goal of the year, the Bobcats found themselves on three more power plays—outshooting the Wings 12-3 at one point in the middle frame—but could not crack Ploszaj, whose strong rebound control made the Cats’ power play opportunities one-and-done throughout the stanza.
Aberdeen took firm control of the contest at 4-1 with 52 seconds gone in the third when veteran center Carter Roo used a turnover at the Bobcat blue line to rush the left-wing circle before zipping a low liner that beat goalie Camden Haugenoe five-hole.
Though they finished the final 20 minutes with an 11-9 advantage in shots, they could not solve Ploszaj again, eventually falling 4-1.
Haugenoe, in his third straight start, made 26 stops but could not avoid his ninth loss of the season. Ploszaj stayed a perfect 5-0-0 against the Bobcats, saving 29 of 30 shots Friday.
The Bobcats will look to cool off the red-hot Wings with a 7:15pm Saturday rematch at Odde Ice Center.
Saturday’s grudge match will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270 AM, and worldwide on HockeyTV.com–the web television partner of the North American Hockey League–with pregame coverage starting at 6:50pm.
Pro-rated 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.