Slow Start Sends Bobcats to Fifth Straight Loss
Published on December 4, 2016 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
BROOKINGS, SD - Unable to find any early footing on the road, the Bismarck Bobcats conceded four goals in the first period Saturday and fell 6-1 to the Brookings Blizzard at the Larson Ice Center.
Brookings got the scoring started 4:37 into the game on the rush as Paul Cotter drove the net and buried a one-timer from newcomer Connor Koviak for a fast 1-0 Blizzard lead.
Another transition strike, this time from Nick Cardelli, made it 2-0 Blizzard as Cotter hit the second-year winger for his fifth goal of the year with 11:19 to go in the first.
Chase Brand scored on the power play at the 6:01 mark, tallying from a bad angle to push Brookings' advantage to 3-0.
Before the period could end, Taylor Schneider potted one as Cardelli caught Bobcat goalie Will Ulrich watching the left wing corner and sent a no-look pass from behind the net to a wide-open Schneider on the right post who made it 4-0 with just 25 seconds left in the frame.
In the second, both teams saw repeated golden scoring opportunities miss the net-keeping the score 4-0 entering the third.
Unfortunately for the Bobcats, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit in their last visit to Larson Ice Center on November 19 to win in overtime, they fell into a 6-0 hole in the first seven minutes of the third as Cotter and Schneider each scored again for Brookings.
Bobcat rookie Tanner Breidenbach spoiled the shutout bid of Blizzard goalie Josh Boyko with 4:03 left in the game, scorching a 50-foot slap shot over Boyko's glove on the power play for his first career goal and the game's final 6-1 margin.
Ulrich made 30 saves in defeat; Boyko stopped 30 of 31 shots to secure his 10th win of the season.
The Cats will try to halt their season-high five-game skid when they travel north to Maysa Arena for an 8:05pm Friday showdown with the archrival Minot Minotauros.
Friday's latest chapter in the Battle of Highway 83 will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270 AM, and worldwide on HockeyTV.com-the web television partner of the North American Hockey League-with pregame coverage starting at 7:35pm.
Pro-rated season tickets are now on sale for the Bobcats' landmark platinum anniversary campaign fans can get more information or reserve their seats for all of Season Twenty now by calling 222-3300.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2016
- Dempsey Backstops Wildcats to 6th Straight Win - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Hunter Nets Hat Trick in 7-2 Romp over Northeast - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Slow Start Sends Bobcats to Fifth Straight Loss - Bismarck Bobcats
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