Bobcats Can't Close Rally, Fall at Brookings
January 24, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
BROOKINGS, SD - The Bismarck Bobcats overcame an early two-goal deficit but could not pull ahead, eventually falling to the Brookings Blizzard 3-2 Wednesday at Larson Ice Center for their second straight defeat.
It is the first time since November 2-9 that the Cats have suffered consecutive losses.
An early power play goal by the Blizzard put the visiting Bobcats into a quick 1-0 hole when blueliner Drew Brevig launched a 50-foot shot through traffic that beat goalie Aaron Nelson low a mere 3:19 into the game.
Second-year forward Aidan Cavallini compounded the visitors' woes with 2:33 left in the first period, tapping in an Eetu Karvinen rebound that trickled behind Nelson to double the lead to 2-0.
After a pair of power plays at the outset of the second, the Bobcats got on the board on the forecheck when rookie Cory Chapman slashed to the net out of the corner and powered his own rebound through Brookings netminder Drew Weigman, slashing the Blizzard lead to 2-1 with 12:03 to go in the middle frame.
As the second stanza rolled into the third, the Bobcats saw chances for an equalizer come up short as Joe Giordano rang the post in transition and then Weigman denied a mid-air redirect from Patrick Moore and a point-blank put-back from Stanislav Dzakhov.
Jeremy O'Keefe finally pulled the Bobcats even at 2-2 with 10:33 to go in the third on the rush when the assistant captain rifled home a Giordano rebound for his second goal of the year.
Brookings tilted the scales in their favor just 1:17 later when forward Conor Andrle streaked behind the Bobcat defense and beat Nelson five-hole to push the home side back in front at 3-2.
Andrle's strike would prove to be the game-winner as the Blizzard defense walled off the Cats' hopes of another rally as Brookings kept the Cats to just one shot in the final minute after Nelson was pulled in favor of an extra attacker.
Nelson took just his sixth regulation loss despite 30 saves. Weigman snared his 14th win of the season behind 29 saves and improved to 4-0-0 in five appearances against the Bobcats.
The Bobcats will wrap up the month of January with a pair of 7:15 games in Aberdeen against the archrival Wings Friday and Saturday.
Friday's Titan Machinery Dakota Cup matchup will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide on the official internet television partner of the NAHL, FASTHockey, at http://nahl.fasthockey.com. Pregame coverage gets under way at 6:45 PM.
Pro-rated season tickets for the 2012-13 season are now on sale-and going fast! Call the Bobcat Hockey office today at (701) 222-3300 to reserve your seats for another great season of Championship Entertainment.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2013
- Forward Dockry Commits to Army - Bismarck Bobcats
- Jr. Blues Return Home to Face Jamestown - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Brookings Hangs on Against Bismarck - Brookings Blizzard
- Ironmen Players and Coach Headed to NAHL Top Prospects Tournament - Jamestown Ironmen
- Bobcats Can't Close Rally, Fall at Brookings - Bismarck Bobcats
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