Bobcat Weekend Preview: Cats Close out Regular Season with Playoff Curtain Warmer
Matchups: Bismarck Bobcats (29-25-4, 3rd Central) vs. Minot Minotauros (36-16-6, 2nd Central)
Games: Friday, March 27, 7:15pm; Saturday, March 28, 7:15pm
Place: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
This Year: Minotauros lead Bobcats 6-2-2
All-Time: Bobcats lead Minotauros 30-12-4
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, 6:45pm both nights
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:45pm both nights
BISMARCK, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats will wrap up the regular season of their 18th campaign Friday and Saturday as they host their eventual first-round playoff opponent, the Minot Minotauros, at the VFW Sports Center.
It is the fourth time in six years that the Cats will meet their first-round foe on the final weekend of the regular season.
Both teams enter Friday off two-game splits: the Cats went 1-0-1 on the road against the Minnesota Wilderness to clinch third place; Minot halved a home-and-home set with the Aberdeen Wings, winning their home end of the series Saturday.
Through 10 meetings, Minot has taken six contests to just four for the Cats; since two Bobcat wins were in the shootout, the Tauros have clinched the season series over their in-state rivals for the first time in franchise history.
Co-captains Evan Giesler (28g, 24a) and Cullen Willox (22g, 27a) continue to pace the Bobcats offensively. Giesler has already secured top-five franchise marks in career points (111, 4th) and goals (51, 4th) while sitting just four assists out of fifth place all-time with the Cats.
Minot’s line of Blake Lizotte, Christian Mohs and Johnny Walker remains the top-scoring unit in the Central Division, combining for 51 goals and 92 assists heading into the season’s final weekend.
With a playoff matchup looming, fans in attendance at this weekend’s games will be given the first shot at buying tickets for the Bobcats’ first-ever postseason meeting with the Tauros at the VFW Sports Center. These tickets will not be sold online or by phone—or even during non-game times—until next week, giving non-season-ticket-holders their first chance to get in on Bobcat playoff hockey.
Tickets for Friday and Saturday’s regular season contests are now on sale: fans can buy and print 24 hours a day online at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of Friday’s weekend opener will start at 6:45pm locally on SuperTalk 1270, KLXX-AM, the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, and worldwide online at NAHL.FASTHockey.com, the official web television partner of the North American Hockey League.
Stay tuned to BismarckBobcats.com for full playoff ticket details!
