BISMARCK, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 decision Friday night, falling 2-1 to the first-place Coulee Region Chill at the VFW Sports Center as their last-minute rally came up short.
Following a scoreless first period, the Chill took the lead 5:58 into the second period on a strong individual effort by leading scorer Zac Frischmon. Frischmon got the corner on the Bobcat defense and, after getting stripped, regained possession and tipped the rolling puck over Bobcat netminder Ryan Faragher for the go-ahead tally.
Frischmon’s seventh of the year stood as the only goal of the second, but the Cats were quick to equalize in the third—forward Charlie Mosey hit red-hot linemate Dan Zawacki streaking up the right side of the Coulee Region zone, and Zawacki beamed a heavy blast past the glove of Chill goalie Paul Moberg for a 1-1 tie just 22 seconds into the final frame.
The Chill regained the lead with 9:17 left in regulation as Berkeley Scott’s 25-foot shot through traffic deflected off a Bobcat defender and through Faragher’s legs to boost the visitors to a 2-1 lead.
Bismarck was able to hold the action in the Chill end of the ice for the majority of the final nine-plus minutes, but were unable to break Moberg’s spell a second time, as the Chill keeper made 17 3rd period saves to secure his sixth win of the year.
Moberg made 38 saves in total.
Faragher stopped 21 shots but received little help from his offense, which has registered just five goals in the last three games—all losses.
Coulee Region (7-1-1, 15 pts) seizes sole possession of first place in the Central Division with the win while the Cats (6-6-1, 13 pts) slip to second, just one point ahead of the Alexandra Blizzard (5-4-2, 12 pts).
The Cats have a chance to reclaim a share of the Central’s top spot with Saturday’s 7:15 PM series finale at the VFW Sports Center against the Chill.
The contest 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