Bobcats Topped by Austin 4-1
Published on March 29, 2014 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
BISMARCK, ND--The final Bobcat season series to be decided will come down to the final night of the season.
Austin fought off an early power play goal by Bismarck's Tyler Dunagan (Maple Grove, MN) to top the Bobcats 4-1 Friday night at the VFW Sports Center.
The Bruins scored four straight times to finish the game, and limited the Bobcats to just 15 shots on goal for the night.
Bismarck (31-23-5) has 10 points in the season series with Austin. Austin (39-19-1) has nine in the series, leading Saturday night's game to be the deciding game of the year.
For Austin, Saturday night's game is also a chance to clinch an NAHL Central Division title. Aberdeen defeated Wenatchee Friday night, staying one point back of the Bruins for the division lead.
The Bobcats have claimed series wins over Wenatchee, Brookings and Minot this season. They split with Fairbanks, and dropped series with Aberdeen and the Minnesota Wilderness.
Dunagan's goal was the first of the game, coming on the power play after Austin's Drew Anderson took a roughing call at 9:16. A minute in, Zach Yon (Roseau, MN) and Huba Sekesi (Munich, Germany) set up Dunagan for the score, and the Bobcats led 1-0 at 10:16 of the first.
The goal put Dunagan in the 40-point club this season, joining teammates Evan Giesler (Naperville, IL), Nate Repensky (Duluth, MN) and Stanislav Dzakhov (Moscow, Russia) at that level.
Despite the 1-0 deficit, Austin carried momentum in the opening frame, outshooting the Bobcats 15-7. That momentum would be evident the rest of the way, as Bismarck was limited to just eight shots the final two periods.
Austin's Charlie Manley notched a power-play goal at 4:33 of the second to tie the game. Third-period goals by Alex Pettersen and Kody Reuter took the lead to 3-1, and Niko Hildenbrand capped the scoring with an empty-netter.
The Bobcats host Austin Saturday night at the VFW Sports Center. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., and tickets are available at 222-3300 or online at www.bismarckbobcats.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2014
- Central Champs Again - Austin Bruins
- 'Rays End 2013-14 Season with 3-0 Shutout over Killer Bees - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Kucera's Two Points not Enough against Roadrunners - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Tomahawks Lose to Jets in Physical Game 4-1 - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Wilderness Score Shootout Win at Coulee Region - Minnesota Wilderness
- Tomahawks Clinch Robertson Cup Playoff Spot for Second Straight Season - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Matt Perry Seventh Bobcat to Commit to Division I Program - Bismarck Bobcats
- Bobcats Topped by Austin 4-1 - Bismarck Bobcats
- Wild Lose In Overtime To Aberdeen But Clinch Playoff Spot - Wenatchee Wild
- Eichstadt Scores Game-Winner, 10 Straight Wins - Aberdeen Wings
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