The Bismarck Bobcats were back on the road to take on the North Iowa Bulls for the final two times in the regular season.
Friday night, the 1st period saw the Bobcats hop out into the lead courtesy of a power play goal. The Bobcats had a great play in the corner as Tommy Cronin found Keanu Krenn in the circle and sent one across to Louie Kamienski who banged home a one-timer in the near circle to find the back of the net, giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. North Iowa would respond in the final minute of the 1st as Bismarck had a defensive breakdown in coverage which left Eli Miller alone in front to tie the game at 1. The Bobcats outshot the Bulls 13-7 in the 1st period.
The 2nd period historically is the best period for the Bobcats in terms of goal differential and that was on display in the 2nd. Bismarck would once again tally on the power play as Jakub Kopecky scored his 3rd goal in 3 games pounding home the rebound in front of the net. Wyatt Sypniewski extended the Bobcats lead on a breakaway as he out-waited North Iowa goaltender Kyle Ozgun and popped the puck bar-down to give the Bobcats the 3-1 lead, which would be the score heading into the 3rd period.
North Iowa did not go quietly into the night as they pushed back in the 3rd period, outshooting the Bobcats 15-12. Things got interesting in the last minute and a half as the Bobcats were called for a too many men on the ice penalty. Couple that with the Bulls pulling their goaltender which resulted in a 6 on 4. North Iowa fired home a net-front scramble to draw the deficit to 1 with 26 seconds remaining. The Bobcats, nonetheless, held on for the 3-2 victory.
Tomas Anderson stopped 25/27 in Friday’s game to tally his 33rd win of the season.
Moving ahead to Saturday’s game, the Bobcats once again opened the scoring in the 1st period. Josh Lehto cut through the slot and deflected the shot from the point from Ian Engel through the five-hole of goaltender Jack Hirshorn to give the Bobcats the 1-0 lead. It was a penalty filled first period as the tempers flared, but the Bobcats escaped the 1st period with the lead. North Iowa outshot Bismarck 13-10 in the 1st period.
The 2nd period once again saw the Bobcats explode offensively. On the man advantage, Engel had it in the deep slot and fired one home for his 4th of the season, under a minute into the frame. Then it was the Julian Beaumont show as he fired home a one-timer at the top of the right wing circle on the power play to extend the lead to 3-0. Beaumont would notch on another just 3 minutes later as he cashed in on a rebound at the base of the right-wing circle. Bismarck would take the 4-0 lead heading into the 3rd period.
The Bobcats maintained on the gas pedal in the 3rd period. Just 31 seconds into the period, Sasha Kim went in on a shorthanded breakaway and made no mistake, notching the Bobcats 1st shorthanded goal of the season. North Iowa would get on the scoresheet just under 2 minutes later, but the Bobcats restored their 5-goal lead as Kopecky fired home his 4th goal in as many games. The final horn would sound and it would be yet another weekend sweep for the Bobcats. Bismarck outshot North Iowa 30-25.
Tomas Anderson stopped 24/25 and notched his 34th win of the season, which ties an all-time single season record with Hunter Shepard (2015-16). The Bobcats have now won 9 straight.
Next weekend the Bobcats are on home ice to take on the Minnesota Mallards. Friday is Brave the Shave! Be sure to come out and support your Bobcats as they will be sporting specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off. Get your tickets by calling 390-7422 or by logging onto BismarckBobcats.com