Bobcats Rally Thwarted by Roadrunners
September 15, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
BLAINE, MN - The Bismarck Bobcats fell behind early and could not mount a big enough comeback, falling 5-2 to the Topeka Roadrunners Saturday at the Schwan Super Rink to finish the 2012 Combat Hockey NAHL Showcase with a record of 1-3-0.
Topeka got on the board a mere 2:19 into the game, as veteran forward Dan Dupell got two whacks at a Tyler Poulsen rebound, sending the latter past Bobcat goalie Anders Franke to post the Roadrunners to an early 1-0 lead.
The Bobcat defense was able to limit the Roadrunners' offense as the period wore on, preventing Topeka from getting a single shot on Franke over the final 10 minutes of the period, but the offense could not solve netminder Mackenzie Sawyer.
With just 2:30 gone in the second, the Roadrunners lead doubled to 2-0 on another second-chance goal; Cam Bleck was able to pop a Ryan Hogland rebound over Franke's right leg pad before the Bobcat defense could clear the loose puck.
Patrick Moore pulled the Cats within one at 2-1 just under seven minutes later, grabbing a Sam Coborn rebound and flipping a backhander past Sawyer and in with 10:38 to go in the middle frame.
A last-minute turnover in the second period, however, hurt the Bobcats' chances as Sean Gaffney grabbed the puck for the Roadrunners and blasted a shot over Franke's glove to post Topeka to a 3-1 lead with just 12 seconds left in the period.
Rookie forward Johno May made it a one goal game once again with 17:08 left to go in the third, ripping a faceoff win from Cory Chapman through Sawyer's legs for a 3-2 score.
The Bobcats battled to find an equalizer, but Sawyer and the Topeka defense stabilized and held the designated home side at bay following May's first of the year.
Back-to-back Roadrunner goals in the final three minutes-including a strike off the faceoff by blueliner Michal Pastor and an emptynetter from Gaffney-sealed the Bobcats' fate on the final day of the Showcase.
Franke made 18 saves but suffered the loss in his first career start; Sawyer improved to 1-0-1 on the season, also turning aside 18 shots.
With the Showcase wrapped up, the Bobcats turn their attention to Coors Light Opening Night on Friday as they host the West Division's Fresno Monsters for the first time in franchise history at 7:15 PM. The Cats will have a big pregame party before Coors Light Opening Night, including a party in the parking lot with HOT 97.5 and more festivities to be announced later this week.
Coors Light Opening Night 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.
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.
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North American Hockey League Stories from September 15, 2012
- Bobcats Rally Thwarted by Roadrunners - Bismarck Bobcats
- Kalamazoo completes undefeated NAHL Showcase - Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
- Overtime Again: Jacks Top Minot 3-2 - Odessa Jackalopes
- Four Teams Remain Undefeated After Day 3 at the NAHL Showcase - NAHL
- Bruins Hold off Johnstown in Overtime - Austin Bruins
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