Offense Goes Quiet as Bobcats Fall in Showcase Opener
BLAINE, MN – So prolific four nights prior, the Bismarck Bobcats’ offense could not find a groove as the Lone Star Brahmas pulled away late to drop the Cats 4-1 on day one at the NAHL Showcase at the Schwan Super Rink.
Neither team was able to break through in the first period, and it looked like the second period would also end scoreless until Lone Star’s Troy York snared the puck on a broken plan and whipped a low shot through the five-hole of Bobcat goalie Will Ulrich with just 1:12 to go in the middle frame to make it 1-0 for the Brahmas.
Lone Star center Justin Addamo gave the Brahmas a major measure of insurance with 4:50 left in regulation, racing through the Bobcat defense and lifting a backhand under the crossbar to pad the lead to 2-0.
First-year defender Noah Bormann got the Bobcats on the board 55 seconds later, taking a Jarett Mari faceoff win and blasting a low slap shot through traffic that Brahma netminder Erik Gordon could not track to bring the Cats back within 2-1.
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, Lone Star pushed it back out to a two-goal contest at 3-1 just 47 seconds after Bormann’s tally when veteran center Carson Kelley snapped a centering pass from Levi Wunder off the left post and in.
When the Cats pulled Ulrich for an extra attacker, Brahma winger Austin Kamer put the finishing touches on the evening, striking into the empty net from 30 feet away with 2:51 left for the game’s final 4-1 margin.
Ulrich, who turned heads all night with a barrage of highlight-reel saves, could not avoid the loss despite 28 stops. Gordon needed a tidy 18 saves to earn his first win of the season.
Showcase play continues Thursday morning for the Bobcats with an 11:15am clash with the defending East Division champion Aston Rebels.
Thursday’s morning tilt 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 10:45am.
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 222-3300.111