BISMARCK, N.D.–24 hours after a dominant performance led to a victory, the Bismarck Bobcats could not turn another good effort into points as the Aberdeen Wings won 4-1 at the VFW Sports Center on Saturday.
Aberdeen scored the game’s first four goals, including a pair just 55 seconds apart to open the scoring in the first period. Drew Holt broke the Wings’ shutout bid in the game’s final minute.
“I thought we played well,” head coach Layne Sedevie said. “Their goaltender was good. Even when we do score, it was waved off, so when you are going against six (people), it is not an easy thing to do. I feel bad for our guys. I thought our effort was good tonight. A 2-1 game is a lot different than 3-0.”
The aforementioned disallowed goal was the controversy surrounding the loss. Erik Atchison appeared to tuck a goal-line shot off the net’s padding to get Bismarck on the board in the second period. The red light flashed, the goal horn sounded, and the Bobcats began to celebrate until referee Eric Arrigo waved the goal off.
“It went in,” Sedevie said. “It hit the pad … The goal judge told (Arrigo) it was a good goal, but the ref said no goal.”
Sedevie, who was up in arms at the no-goal call immediately, ended up being ejected between the second and third periods.
The two teams each ended up with 26 shots on goal. As was the case on Friday, the Bobcats finished with the better analytics: more faceoff wins, possession time, blocked shots, grade-A chances, and expected goals. However, along with the controversy, Cole Moore, Aberdeen’s goaltender, saved his best weekend of the season for the Bobcats. Moore made 71 saves on 74 shots in the two-game series.
“I liked our lines today,” Sedevie said. “We made a slight change with Holt and Atchison, and I felt like we had good chances. We will probably stick with it going forward and try to have some chemistry going into Friday.”
Only six games remain in the regular season, and nobody has been mathematically eliminated. In fact, only the Austin Bruins have clinched a playoff spot. The final six games are all against one team: North Iowa. Bismarck can catch the Bulls if they win out. In case of not winning out, they hope to receive help in the form of Aberdeen and Minot losing.
“Just win Friday,” Sedevie said. “See what happens. That is all we can do. We will get some rest, come back, and worry about Friday night. Not worried about Saturday. I think that is the mentality we have to have: one game at a time.”
The Bismarck Bobcats are home on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 against the North Iowa Bulls. Puck drop is 7:15 p.m. both nights. Fans can purchase tickets at tickets.bismarckbobcats.com or by calling the office at 222-3300.