Sharp Special Teams Lift Bobcats to Critical Win
February 12, 2017 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
BISMARCK, ND - Backed into a virtual must-win situation, the Bismarck Bobcats got two shorthanded goals and a late game-winner on the power play en route to a pivotal 4-2 win over the Brookings Blizzard Saturday at the VFW Sports Center.
Whistled for a slashing penalty in the first five minutes of the game, the Bobcats turned the negative into a positive at the 13:44 mark when blueliner Noah Bormann intercepted a Brookings entry at his own blue line and sped into the Blizzard zone before snapping a low liner that beat netminder Josh Boyko stick side to push the home side ahead 1-0.
Then, 2:26 later, the Cats doubled their lead to 2-0 on a 2-on-1 rush when Nick Alexander tapped a centering pass from Matt Barry on goal; though Boyko made the initial stop, his momentum carried him and the puck over the goal line before a whistle could sound for third goal in his last four appearances.
In the second, the teams traded opportunities through the first 10-plus minutes before a defensive zone turnover by the Bobcats allowed Nick Cardelli to tap a partially blocked rebound over the blocker of Bobcat goalie Camden Haugenoe to cut the score to 2-1 with 5:15 left in the middle frame.
Following Cardelli's tally, the Blizzard made a big push to close the period but the Bobcat penalty kill wiped out a late 5-on-3 power play for the visitors to hold the one-goal edge after two.
Brookings, nevertheless, fought all the way back to tie the game 2-2 with 15:06 to go in regulation when a long rebound kicked straight to deadline acquisition John Siebenaler for a close-range put-back before Haugenoe could recover to the right post.
Despite conceding the equalizer, the Bobcats continued to apply pressure on Boyko and the Blizzard, eventually earning a 5-on-3 power play of the own. With the two-man advantage, careful passes from Zach Kennedy and Jordan Fralich opened a seam for Tobias Fladeby to scorch a one-time slap shot from the top of the right-wing circle in over Boyko's blocker with 8:07 on the clock for a 3-2 Bobcat lead.
Before the game could end, the Cats would face two more penalty kills-including 6-on-4 time with Boyko pulled on a late cross-checking minor-but held firm both times, culminating in a Matt Berry length-of-the-ice clear that skidded into the empty net with 27 seconds left for a shorthanded marker and the game's 4-2 final count.
Haugenoe halted a personal two-start skid, picking up his sixth win on 29 stops. Boyko turned in 26 saves but slipped to 17-12-4.
Now the Bobcats turn their attention to a two-game road series at Odde Ice Center against the Aberdeen Wings-now the hottest team in the NAHL thanks to a seven-game win streak-starting Friday at 7:15pm.
Friday's rivalry throwdown will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270 AM, and worldwide on HockeyTV.com-the web television partner of the North American Hockey League-with pregame coverage starting at 6:50pm.
Pro-rated season tickets are now on sale for the Bobcats' landmark platinum anniversary campaign starting at less than $100 per seat: fans can get more information or reserve their seats for the rest of Season Twenty now by calling 222-3300.
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North American Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2017
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- Sharp Special Teams Lift Bobcats to Critical Win - Bismarck Bobcats
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