BLAINE, MINN.–For the third straight game, the Bismarck Bobcats scored first at the North American Hockey League showcase. For the straight game, the team failed to hold the lead in a 3-2 loss against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday.
Vertti Jantunen scored his second power play goal in the last two games in the final two minutes of the first period. Fairbanks responded by scoring the next three, spanning roughly 30 minutes of action. The Ice Dogs scored the go-ahead and game-winning goals on the power play.
Bismarck pulled to within one late in the third on Julian Beaumont’s first career junior hockey goal. Beaumont, a native of Plano Texas, tucked home the centering pass from Texan linemate Sam Blanton, of Carrollton. Both men made their debuts in this game.
For the first time this week, the Bobcats were the more penalized team. Bismarck allowed two power play goals on five Ice Dogs opportunities, while going 1-for-1 on their unit.