Bison Clinch Playoff Spot with Win over Iowa
Published on April 18, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL)
Bloomington Bison News Release
Bloomington, Ill - Multiple players record two-point nights as the Bloomington Bison clinch its first ever playoff berth with a 5-2 win over the Iowa Heartlanders at Grossinger Motors Arena on Saturday evening.
Bloomington started the game strong, recording seven of the first ten shots on net. The Bison used its speed to start breaks and earned its first powerplay chance. Following the man advantage, Bloomington was called for its own penalty, which Iowa broke the ice at 14:08. The Bison generated last second shots to control momentum as it took the one-goal deficit to the middle frame.
Under four minutes into the second, Deni Goure evened the score after Grant Porter forced a defensive zone turnover and fed an open Goure in the slot with Parker Lindauer earning the secondary assist. The Bison controlled play throughout the stanza when Seung Jae Lee gave Bloomington the lead, and never looked back. Lee got point feed from Riku Ishida and blasted a slapper home at 11:01, with Eddie Matsushima earning a point in his return to the Bison lineup. Porter doubled the Bison lead under two minutes later, deking out the goalie after a face-off win. Goure and Lindauer each earned their second points. Bloomington carried a two-goal lead to the final period.
Cullen Ferguson scored his first as a Bison around eight minutes into the period, capping off four-unanswered goals. Ferguson followed up his own rebound after he joined an odd-man rush with Brad Morrison and Ayden MacDonald setting up the play. The Heartlanders got one back on the powerplay, but Shane Ott sealed the game after a redirection from a Nikita Sedov shot with just over five minutes remaining.
The Bison will head to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time in the franchise's history. The Round 1 opponent has not been determined yet. All playoff rounds will be decided in a best-of-seven format with round one featuring a two-three-two home format.
For all postseason ticketing questions, call the Bison Ticket Office at 309-965-HERD.
To stay up to date on the Bison postseason drive, follow the Bison social media at BisonHockeyECHL on Facebook, Instagram and X.
ECHL Stories from April 18, 2026
- Bison Clinch Playoff Spot with Win over Iowa - Bloomington Bison
- Americans Open Round 1 in Allen After 2-1 OT Win - Allen Americans
- Knight Monsters Close Regular Season with 6-4 Win against Rush - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- Oilers Banish Thunder to Division Basement with Barn-Burning Overtime Victory in Season Finale - Tulsa Oilers
- Fuel Win, 4-3, Against the Nailers in Their Final Regular Season Game - Indy Fuel
- Royals First Round Playoff Series Announced vs. Wheeling - Reading Royals
- Desperate Fuel Steal Regular Season Finale, 4-3 - Wheeling Nailers
- Heartlanders' Regular Season Concludes in Bloomington - Iowa Heartlanders
- Bison Clinch 2026 Kelly Cup Playoff Berth - Bloomington Bison
- South Carolina Ends Regular Season with 6-0 Rout of Orlando - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - April 18 - ECHL
- Railers Strike in Overtime, Beat Thunder 3-2 - Worcester Railers HC
- Stingrays Announce First-Round Playoff Schedule - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gladiators Announce Schedule for Round One of 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs - Atlanta Gladiators
- Thunder Fall to Railers 3-2 in Overtime - Adirondack Thunder
- Cyclones Close out 2025-26 Season with Loss to K-Wings - Cincinnati Cyclones
- K-Wings Dominate Cyclones Saturday on Road - Kalamazoo Wings
- Dominant Win and Hat Trick by Dufort to Close out the Lions' Season - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Swamp Rabbits Fall in Shootout against Icemen - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Mariners Close Regular Season with Loss in Trois-Rivieres - Maine Mariners
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Milo Roelens and Dyllan Gill to the Syracuse Crunch - Orlando Solar Bears
- Roest & Davies Assigned to Atlanta from Milwaukee - Atlanta Gladiators
- Royals Sign Ryan Orgel to SPC - Reading Royals
- Rush Game Notes: April 18, 2026 vs. Tahoe Knight Monsters - Rapid City Rush
- ECHL Announces Suspension - ECHL
- Huge Point on the Line Tonight - Allen Americans
- Waugh Returns to Savannah from Hartford - Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Preview: Royals vs. Everblades, April 18th - Game 72/72 - Reading Royals
- Americans Beat Wichita 3-2 - Allen Americans
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
