The Bismarck Bobcats were back on home ice this weekend to take on the North Iowa Bulls, both Friday and Saturday.
Friday’s contest didn’t start the way the Bobcats wanted to. Under a minute into the opening period the Bobcats would find themselves short-handed. The Bulls sent a shot in from the point, that hit a Bobcat out in front, changing the direction of the puck and it beat Tomas Anderson, making it a 1-0 contest favoring the visitors. However, the Bobcats didn’t let that goal deflate them. They regrouped, played a very good 5 on 5 period, and got rewarded at the end of the period. While on the man advantage, the Bobcats struck to tie the game. The puck got worked to the top of the right wing circle where Louie Kamienski loaded up a one-timer going five hole on the goaltender and notching his 1st in a Bobcat uniform. With Kamienski’s goal, the game would head into the intermission tied at 1.
The 2nd period saw each team trading scoring chances, and getting opportunities on the power play. About 12 minutes into the 2nd, following an incredible penalty kill, Tommy Cronin received a stretch pass right onto his tape from Tristen Trevino, Cronin took space into the top of the circle and ripped one blocker side on Kyle Ozgun giving the Bobcats their first lead of the weekend. The period would end 2-1 favoring Bismarck, shots on goal overall read 25-13.
The 3rd period North Iowa fired back in the last 7 minutes of play. They generated scoring chances on goal, had sustained offensive zone time, and were getting traffic in front of Anderson. The netminder stood tall nonetheless, making some key saves down the stretch. The Bulls were aggressive in terms of pulling their goalie with 3:30 to go. Zane Rowan would find the empty net with just over 30 seconds remaining, sealing the deal for the Bobcats 3-1 as they gained the two points.
Tomas Anderson stopped 22/23 that came his way and tallied his 22nd win of the season.
Moving ahead to Saturday’s game the Bobcats would strike first on the power play once again. With the power play tally, the Bobcats now have 6 straight games with a power play goal. It was Kamienski once again getting the scoring started as he now has goals in back to back games for the Bobcats. While tempers flared in the 1st period of play, the Bobcats would still come out with the 1-0 lead.
The Bobcats played a very solid 2nd period, outshooting the Bulls 12-5, but the insurance goal wouldn’t come. Luckily for the Bobcats all 5 North Iowa shots in the middle period were stopped by Anderson and the game would head into the 3rd period reading 1-0 in favor of the home side.
The 3rd period had some dramatics. The Bulls once again had the fight and push-back from Friday night’s contest. At the midway mark of the period, the Bulls had it along the right wing circle, Michael Malatino just threw it on goal and it hit a Bobcat out in front and deflected into the back of the net tying the game at 1. Down the stretch the goalies stood tall. Just under 3 minutes remaining in the game, a shot came in from the line, deflected off the stick of Eli Miller and found the back of the net for the Bulls, giving them a 2-1 lead with 2:43 to go in the game. Bismarck, with the goalie pulled, was able to draw a penalty and get a 6 on 4 power play with a minute and a half remaining. The puck was worked out to the line for Rafalski, he sent it across to Alexandr Kim who unleashed a slap shot just under the bar and into the back of the net, tying the game at 2 and forcing overtime.
Neither team registered a single shot in the overtime period, meaning for the 2nd time between the Bulls and the Bobcats this season, we were headed to a shootout. North Iowa was up first, Denis Hodas, slithered in slowly from the left side and Anderson came up with the save. Evan Hunter was first for the Bobcats. He also worked his way in from the left, got the goaltender to bite, and fired it home, giving the Bobcats the lead. Next up for North Iowa was the leading point scorer, Cole Wirun. He took the same approach as Hodas, but Anderson came up big with the save. Cronin comes onto the ice for the Bobcats, game on his stick. With speed he faked forehand, went backhand, and roofed it into the back of the net, sealing the deal for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats moved to 31-6-2 after the weekend series. The Bobcats are on the road next weekend as they take on the Aberdeen Wings. Catch all the action with the Voice of the Bobcats, Brandon Luisi on NATV and Super Talk 1270.