ABERDEEN, SD –Shane Omdahl and Frank DeAugustine combined for eight points as the Bismarck Bobcats crushed the Aberdeen Wings 7-2 Friday at Odde Ice Center to spoil the Wings’ home opener.
“It feels really nice to come into a place where we struggled last year and walk out with two points,” commented Bobcats Head Coach and General Manager Layne Sedevie. “We did a great job of taking a rowdy crowd out of the game and executing our game plan.”
John Furgele opened the scoring 5:31 into the opening frame, fresh on the heels of a successful Bobcat penalty kill, guiding a low 40-foot shot through traffic and between the legs of Aberdeen goalie Hunter Leisner for a fast 1-0 lead.
DeAugustine doubled the lead 5:24 later, banging home a Dan Zawacki rebound for a 2-0 edge.
Omdahl followed up DeAugustine’s strike with his fourth tally of the year—out-waiting Leisner to wrist home a Castan Sommer rebound to push it to a 3-0 game.
“I’m more used to distributing the puck, but lately my linemates have been finding me in good scoring position,” noted Omdahl, who has 11 points in his last three games. “But, hey, the offense is clicking right now and we will take the goals however we can get them.”
DeAugustine scored his second of the night—and his second powerplay goal in as many games—1:54 into the second period, taking a long Jeremy O’Keefe rebound off the back wall and firing it past an out-of-position Leisner to nudge the spread to 4-0 in favor of the visitors.
Aberdeen appeared to get on the board with 8:56 left in the second period but a play originally ruled a goal by Ryan Doner was waved off after it was determined by referee Phil Stodgell and the goal judge that it never crossed the goal line.
Omdahl matched DeAugustine with his second of the night, redirecting a centering feed from Bryce Anderson into a wide-open net for a 5-0 lead after two.
Coming out of the second intermission, Aberdeen Head Coach Pete Sauer replaced Leisner with backup Marcus Zelzer; Leisner finished with 20 saves and the loss.
The two sides traded goals in the third period, with the Wings getting a pair from Stephen Obarzanek while the Cats picked up markers from Patrick Moore and Dan Zawacki for the final 7-2 margin.
Bobcat netminder Tommy Burke finished with 32 saves to secure his fourth win of the year.
Zelzer made 12 stops but didn’t factor in the decision.
The Bobcat penalty kill was once again a key factor, successfully negating all 6 Aberdeen power plays on the night. The Cats have killed off all 12 Aberdeen power plays in the early goings in the season series.
“Our penalty kill continues to be a work in progress, but has been a real bright spot the last few games,” said Sedevie. “Our guys are working hard out there and starting to learn that hard work translates into success.”
The Bobcats continue their road weekend with a 7:35 PM showdown in the Magic City against the expansion Minot Minotauros.
Saturday’s initial trip to Maysa Arena for the Cats will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide on the official internet television partner of the NAHL, FASTHockey, at http://nahl.fasthockey.com. Pregame coverage gets under way at 7:05 PM.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2011-12 season—and going fast! Call the Bobcat Hockey office at (701) 222-3300 or email gobobcathockey@aol.com for more information on reserving your seats for the upcoming season!
BOBCAT HOCKEY
2011 CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPIONS