NAHL Bismarck Bobcats

Bobcats Hang on for 5-4 Shootout Win

Published on January 23, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release


MASON CITY, IA - The Bismarck Bobcats watched three different two-goal leads slip away but managed to outlast the North Iowa Outlaws for a 5-4 shootout win Saturday at the North Iowa Ice Arena.

The ‘Cats opened the scoring 7:28 into the first period when Bryce Schmitt rifled a George Malliaras rebound over North Iowa starter Keegan Asmundson for a fast 1-0 lead.

Asmundson left the game with 7:43 left in the first with an upper body injury and did not return; he was replaced by Paul Moberg.

The Bobcats beat Moberg six minutes after his entrance as Sean McKenzie redirected a Sam Rendle power play shot through Moberg's legs for a 2-0 Bobcat lead with 1:29 left in the opening frame.

North Iowa battled back, however, in a wild second period that saw Outlaw defenseman Ben Danford fire a puck past Bobcat goalie Jake Williams off a broken play to cut the Bismarck edge to 2-1 with 13:46 left in the second.

George Malliaras answered two and a half minutes later for the ‘Cats, stuffing a wrap-around attempt between Moberg and the short post to give the visitors a 3-1 lead.

The Outlaws responded in kind with mid-week acquisition Cam Severson whipping home a Ryan Bohrer feed to bring the game to 3-2 Bobcats with 10:26 left in the second.

McKenzie extended the lead back to two goals with his second of the night, beating Moberg five-hole to finish a picture-perfect tic-tac-toe passing play from linemates Casey Kleisinger and Aaron Quick with 5:41 left in the second.

It would be North Iowa, however, that would cap the high-scoring middle frame when a long pass from Outlaw blueliner Mike McDonald triggered a Markus Gander breakaway that the Italian forward converted to trim the lead back to 4-3 Bobcats.

The ‘Cats suffered a bit of bad luck in the third when defenseman John Avino tried to deflect a Micky Knox centering feed and inadvertently knocked it into the Bismarck net, tying the game at four with 4:23 left in regulation, eventually forcing overtime.

Both sides traded scoring chances in the extra frame, but Williams and Moberg held firm, sending the game to the decisive best-of-five shootout.

After neither team scored in the first three shootout rounds, leading Bobcat scorer Jason Fabian whipped a low wrist shot under Moberg's glove to boost the ‘Cats to a 1-0 shootout lead.

Williams made a glove save while falling on Outlaw forward Dane Shaugabay in the fourth round and in the fifth round Gander lost the puck while trying to make a backhand move, sealing the weekend sweep for the Bobcats, 5-4.

It is the third shootout win in 2010 for the Bobcats after going 0-4 in the five-round affairs during the 2009 portion of their schedule.

Williams finished with 23 saves and improved to 3-0-0 in black and gold while Moberg took the hard luck loss, falling to 8-12-2 despite making 39 saves.

Asmundson did not figure in the decision, making 8 saves on 9 shots before departing.

The Bobcats continue Central Division play at 7:15 PM on Friday when the Albert Lea Thunder come to town to open a two-game series at the VFW Sports Center.

Friday's game will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide at BismarckBobcats.com via B2 Networks. The pre-game show starts at 6:45 PM.

You won't want to miss any of the games this season, so order your Season Tickets, Family Packs and Group Nights today by calling the Bobcat Hockey Office at 701-222-3300 or by e-mailing the office for more information at gobobcathockey@aol.com.

Check out the Bismarck Bobcats Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



North American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2010


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.

OurSports Central