Late Tally Deals Bobcats a Game One Setback
May 13, 2016 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
EDINA, MN - A highly defensive battle in Game One of the Robertson Cup Semifinals hinged on a goal in the last three minutes of regulation as the Bismarck Bobcats fell 3-2 to the Wichita Falls Wildcats Thursday to slip into an 0-1 deficit in the best-of-three-game series.
It was a bit of good fortune that posted the Bobcats to a fast 1-0 advantage 1:18 into the game, when Oskars Batna ripped a bad-angle shot off the side of the net: sending the puck seven feet into the air, bouncing off the skates of Wildcat netminder Justin Kapelmaster and in off the right post for Batna's third postseason marker.
That edge would not last two minutes as Wichita Falls drew even with 16:50 left in the first on a Jake Dalton blast through traffic that zipped past the glove of Bobcat goalie Hunter Shepard for a 1-1 score.
In the second, the Bobcats pulled back ahead-again early-at 2-1 when Garrett Nelson sprung Willie Brown on a breakaway that the third-year NAHL'er used to deke past Kapelmaster and tuck home a backhander with 17:26 to go in the stanza.
Wichita Falls used a strong forecheck to battle back 4:04 later when a Bobcat turnover allowed Ryan Burnett to redirect a long-range floater by Adam Goodsir in past Shepard and tie the game at two.
The Bobcats nearly pulled back in front 5:09 into the third, as Pieter von Steinbergs raced through the Wildcat defense and dove to his right but could not elevate his backhander over Kapelmaster's left leg pad-keeping the game knotted 2-2.
Just as it looked like the Bobcats would see overtime for the first time this postseason, Burnett struck for the second time on a one-timer from Garrett van Whye with just 2:34 to go, giving the Wildcats their first lead of the night at 3-2.
Despite three shots in the final minute, the Bobcats could not get another one past Kapelmaster and fell 3-2.
Shepard made a season-high 39 saves but could not avoid his fourth loss of the postseason. Kapelmaster stopped 21 shots and stayed perfect in the playoffs at 7-0.
For just the second time in the Robertson Cup Playoffs, the Bobcats face elimination in a win-or-go-home Game Two at 7:30pm Friday.
Friday's must-win contest will be broadcast live locally on SuperTalk 1270, KLXX-AM, the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, and worldwide online at NAHL.FASTHockey.com-the official web television partner of the North American Hockey League-with pregame coverage starting at 7:00pm.
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North American Hockey League Stories from May 13, 2016
- Wildcats Eliminate Bobcats, Advance to Robertson Cup Finals - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Jeszka Makes Division I Commitment - Brookings Blizzard
- Ice Dogs Defeat Rebels 2-1 - Philadelphia Rebels
- Late Tally Deals Bobcats a Game One Setback - Bismarck Bobcats
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