Bobcats Trounce Aberdeen, Take 2-0 Lead
Published on April 6, 2014 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
Aberdeen, SD--Bobcat fans are used to watching their team rise to the occasion in the post-season.
What they saw in Aberdeen is another chapter in that saga.
Five straight goals Saturday night led to the Bobcats earning two chances to close out a series on the Wings at home, taking a 5-1 win and 2-0 series lead, with a sweep of the weekend in Aberdeen.
After dropping six straight to the Wings to end the regular season, Bismarck thrashed both Wings goalies, scoring nine goals in Aberdeen in two games, while Bobcat goalie Aaron Nelson (Bismarck, ND) found playoff form.
Nelson followed up 29 saves on 31 chances Friday night with 27 stops on 28 Aberdeen shots Saturday, allowing just 1.50 goals against over the two games.
Bismarck's offense complimented the defensive effort, as the Bobcats turned to familiar faces from Friday's game for a spark.
Evan Giesler (Naperville, IL), fresh off of a playoff-opening hat trick Friday night, scored twice, and Cullen Willox (Eagan, MN) racked up two more assists after three Friday, powering the offense to a rout.
While the familiar faces played their role, a new face moved the game in the right direction early, and again later.
Rookie Zach Yon (Roseau, MN), who joined the team just after the completion of his high school season, tallied twice, including the first goal. He finished a power play effort, helped by Chris Diver (Wilmington, DE) and Tyler Dunagan (Maple Grove, MN) at 14:47 of the first, for the games first score.
After Diver scored on a Willox feed at 11:35 of the second, Yon scored unassisted just 24 seconds later at 11:59, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Giesler then finished the Wings off, scoring on the power play from Willox at 15:40 of the second, and short-handed from Dan Kovar at 9:46 of the third, building a 5-0 lead. Aberdeen's Erik Baskin scored a harmless goal toward the end of the period for the 5-1 final.
In the regular season, both Aberdeen goalies, Chad Catt and Henry Dill, were in the top 12 in the NAHL at their position. Neither made a successful stand on home ice against a refocused Bobcat offense.
The Bobcats host game three Friday night at the VFW Sports Center. Tickets are available at 222-3300 or online at www.bismarckbobcats.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2014
- Wilderness Top Wild In Game Three To Stay Alive - Wenatchee Wild
- Coming Home Tied - Minot Minotauros
- Bobcats Trounce Aberdeen, Take 2-0 Lead - Bismarck Bobcats
- Bulls Beat Cat 7-4 - Amarillo Bulls
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