The Bismarck Bobcats hosted the Aberdeen Wings for games 1 & 2 in the Central Division Semifinals.
Friday night the Bobcats dominated the opening period offensively, outshooting Aberdeen 12-6. However, veteran goaltender Adam Dybal would shut the door on the Bobcats as the game would enter the 2nd period scoreless.
Looking at the 2nd period, it was pretty much the same story only reversed. Aberdeen outshot the Bobcats 11-5 in the middle frame and it was Bryce Francisco’s turn to stand on his head and stop all 11 shots that came his way. Neither team would find the back of the net and game 1 would be heading into the 3rd period with a 0-0 scoreline.
Heading to the 3rd period, you could feel the intensity and energy in the air. It would be Aberdeen breaking the deadlock with 12 and a half minutes remaining in the contest as Easton Edwards got lost in coverage and found the back of the net by wrapping the puck around the outstretched pad of Francisco. Late in the game the Bobcats were on the man advantage and just as it was expiring, David Hruby had all the time and space in the world on a breakaway and he would put the puck five-hole on Francisco to make it a 2-0 contest. Matthew Martin would tack on an empty-net shorthanded goal to seal the deal and notch the game 1 win for Aberdeen.
Moving to Saturday night, it felt as if the Bobcats needed to score the 1st goal of the contest and they did just that. Alex Lunski parked himself in the front of the net and got a hold of a rebound which he backhanded home to make it 1-0 Cats just past the midway point of the opening frame. Minutes later the Bobcats would extend their lead on a howitzer from Royce Pietila as he unleashed a slap shot that went bar-down from the top of the left-wing circle. The Bobcats would take the 2-0 lead heading into the 2nd period.
Aberdeen had a good pushback in the 2nd period, but it would be Bismarck striking on the power play with just over 7 minutes to go in the period. Mark Evans controlled a rebound that was shot wide from Lunski and put the puck perfectly past the glove of Dybal to make it a 3-0 contest. Francisco would continue to stand on his head stopping all 26 through 2 periods.
Moving to the 3rd, the Bobcats were up 3-0. Aberdeen was one of two teams during the regular season to defeat Bismarck when the Cats had a lead entering the 3rd period. Just over 6 minutes in Aberdeen would end the shutout bid for Francisco as Caden Lee found the back of the net to pull the Wings within 2. Things would begin to settle down, before Edwards would find his 2nd of the weekend with 3:32 to go and all of a sudden the Wings were back within just 1 goal. It was a heck of a push for the Wings, but the Bobcats fought them off and as the final buzzer sounded, the crowd erupted as the series was tied at 1.
Francisco stopped 31/33 on Saturday and on the weekend registered a 2.00 GAA and a .925 save percentage in his first 2 career NAHL playoff games.
Games 3 & 4 will be in Aberdeen this upcoming weekend. Puck drop is set for 7:15 P.M. for both nights of action! Be sure to head to one of our road watch party locations if you can’t make it to Aberdeen in person!