BISMARCK, ND–It’s back on the road for the Bismarck Bobcats this weekend, as they face the Aberdeen Wings at the Odde Ice Center in Aberdeen Friday and Saturday nights.
The series will be crucial toward both team’s positions in the NAHL Central Division standings. Aberdeen swept the Minnesota Magicians last weekend, a sweep that included an extra-attacker goal with one second left of regulation that forced overtime and an eventual shoot-out win Friday night. After a split with Minot last weekend, the Bobcats trail the Wings by two points for second place.
Bismarck is 2-1 versus Aberdeen this season. All three games have been decided by one goal, and two have failed to conclude in regulation. The Bobcats won at Aberdeen 4-3 on October 4th, allowing two late goals and withstanding the extra attacker at the end of regulation. The next night, Bismarck prevailed 2-1 after six rounds of shootout hockey.
Aberdeen claimed their lone win in the latest meeting, a 5-4 overtime win in Aberdeen on November 1st. The Bobcats scored twice in the final minutes of regulation to tie the game at 4-4, but the Wings ended the game a little over a minute into the extra period to win.
Filip Starzynski (Warsaw, Poland) and Nate Repensky (Duluth, MN) co-lead the Bobcat offense with 23 points each. Repensky’s 21 assists are tied for the most in the NAHL, and Starzynski’s 11 goals are tied for third best. Goalie Aaron Nelson (Bismarck, ND) enters the weekend with a 2.28 Goals Against Average and a .917 saves percentage. He has played the third most minutes (1028:02) among NAHL goalies.
Goalie Chad Catt (Williamstown, MI) has been the Wings’ leader this season, sporting a 1.58 Goals Against Average and a .955 saves percentage. His saves percentage is second best in the NAHL, and his three shutouts tie him for third best.
Faceoff is set for 7:05 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Both games will be heard on Supertalk 1270 KLXX, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:40 p.m.