Grogan earns Bobcats win
November 8, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
The Bismarck Bobcats goalie Matt Grogan earned his first win of the season on Saturday night against the Albert Lea Thunder. The Bobcats (9-8-1, 19 points) beat the Thunder (1-13-1, 3 points) by a final of 2-1 in Albert Lea, Minnesota to complete back-to-back wins on the road and put the Bobcats one game above.500 for the first time since late September.
"Matty (Grogan) played really well tonight and got us a big win," said Bobcat Head Coach Byron Pool. "He made some great saves and was solid all night long."
Bismarck came out in the first period with a mission to score early and get off to good start. The Bobcats would get the opening goal on the powerplay from defenseman TonyTurgeon at the 8:01 mark in the first period. Turgeon fired a slapshot from the left point in the Thunder zone that beat Albert Lea goalie Tom Lescovich high-glove side. Jordan Singer would get credit with the lone assist after winning the offensive zone faceoff back to Turgeon from the left circle.
At the 12:10 mark in the first period the Bobcats would go up 2-0 on a backhand shot from Jason Fabian. Fabian came through the slot from the right circle and sent the backhand shot to the glove-side of Lescovich putting in the eventual game-winning goal. The assist was given to Jeremiah Dargis and Andrew Seeberg. Seeberg, a Bismarck native received his first point for the Bobcats in his first season.
"Jason (Fabian) was great tonight! He had a solid game and should've had another goal in the third period," Pool said.
Fabian would later put in a goal in the third period, however it was disallowed by the referee Ken Anderson who said that the net came off before the goal went into the net from Fabian's wraparound attempt. However, it was a questionable call that had the Bobcat bench wanting an explanation immediately after the whistle.
As the first period was coming to an end, Bobcat goalie Grogan would take a 2 minute minor for delay of game after the net came off of its moorings. On the ensuing powerplay, Grogan would make a remarkable save on the Thunder's Chris Cass shot from the right circle taking the 2-0 lead into the second period.
The second period was full of chances for both sides, but neither goalie would allow goals in the middle period, which kept the Bobcats in the lead 2-0 after 40 minutes of play.
In the third period, Albert Lea would get their only goal from John Affolter after it was deflected in off the back of Bobcat defenseman John Avino. The goal was on the powerplay and broke the shutout attempt from Grogan making the final score 2-1.
Bobcat goalie Grogan (1-3-0) ended up with 21 saves on 22 shots in the win.
Thunder goalie Tom Lescovich (1-5-0) made 35 saves on 37 shots receiving the loss.
On the powerplay, the Bobcats were 1-6, while the Thunder were 1-7 with the man-advantage.
The Bobcats next game is next Friday night at the Alexandria Blizzard. You can watch the game online through the B2 Networks and listen to it on Super Talk 1270AM. "The Dvorak Motors Pre-Game Show" starts at 6:30pm CST with the "Voice of the Bobcats" Skip Berry.
You can e-mail the broadcast booth at bobcats1270@gmail.com.
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