ABERDEEN, SD — The Bismarck Bobcats saw their six-game winning streak come to a halt as they fell 3-2 in a shootout Saturday against the Aberdeen Wings at Odde Ice Center.
It is the second time the Cats have seen a win streak of five or more games end in Aberdeen, and the first time that they have lost in a shootout all year.
Following a scoreless first period, Aberdeen drew first blood 8:20 into the second when forward C.J. Pullar blocked a point shot from John Furgele and outraced the Bobcats defenseman up the ice and beat goalie Ryan Faragher for a 1-0 Aberdeen lead.
The Bobcats responded in short order when defenseman Nick Romanick pinballed a shot off a pair of Wings defenders and over Aberdeen netminder Hunter Leisner to knot the game at 1-1 just 3:18 after Pullar\’s go-ahead tally. It is the former Bismarck High Demon\’s first goal in black and goal.
Wings second-leading scorer Cory Ward put the home side back on top with 4:58 to go in the middle frame on a disputed goal–the Bobcats net appeared to come off its moorings and Ward slid a shot between Faragher and the dislodged post. The goal was allowed by head official Andrew Wilk.
Team captain Matt Gates–originally credited with Romanick\’s goal–pulled the Bobcats back even at 2-2 with 8:39 left in regulation, batting home a John Furgele rebound, eventually forcing overtime with the equalizer.
Aberdeen carried the majority of the action in the extra frame, outshooting the Cats 11-3. Faragher was the big star in bonus hockey, making repeated glove stops to keep the Wings out of the net and send the game to the decisive shootout.
Faragher stopped the Wings\’ three top scorers–Ward, Louis Educate and Tim Tuscher–in the shootout\’s first three rounds, but speedy forward Paul Prescott beat the Fort Frances, Ont., native with a rolling backhander in the fourth round. It is the first shootout goal Faragher has given up all year.
Leisner, who made an eye-popping 47 saves, shut down all five Bobcats shooters, picking up his 12th win of 2010-11 when he made a blocker save on Frank DeAugustine in the fifth round.
Faragher made 42 saves but suffered his second loss after regulation of the season, and first since a 3-2 OT defeat against Wichita Falls back in September. Faragher\’s biggest play of the night was stopping Aberdeen\’s Tyler Poulsen on a penalty shot. The Bobcat net minder drew the ire of Wings fans and players when he mimicked the celebration of Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price after making the penalty shot save.
The Bobcats return to action with a special Wednesday night home tilt against the Alexandria Blizzard for their first annual Faith Night contest. The game is scheduled for a 7:15 PM start at the VFW Sports Center.
Wednesday\’s game will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide at http://nahl.fasthockey.com/. Pre-game coverage will begin at 6:45 PM CT.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2010-11 season! Call the Bobcat Hockey office at (701) 222-3300 or email gobobcathockey@aol.com for more information on reserving your seats for the entire season as the Bobcats look to defend the Robertson Cup!
BOBCAT HOCKEY
2010 ROBERTSON CUP CHAMPIONS