Wildcats Rally against Bobcats, Win Game 1 of Semi-Finals
May 12, 2016 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats roared back twice after falling behind and scored a pivotal goal in the waning minutes to oust the Bismarck Bobcats by a score of 3-2 in Game 1 of the Robertson Cup Semi-Finals Thursday night.
With two teams who had not played each other in nearly nine years, fluky plays were expected to occur. Just 1:18 into the game, Jared Pike banked a shot off the side of the net before it fluttered in the air and off Justin Kapelmaster's skate before caroming into the net. The goal did not rattle the Wildcats in the slightest, as Jake Dalton responded just a minute and 52 seconds later by rifling a long screen shot from the blue line which blew past Hunter Shepard to tie the game up at 1.
The Wildcats gave the Bobcats a taste of their speed, putting loads of pressure on Shepard and peppering the Bismarck goaltender with 11 shots before the period came to an end. An interference penalty taken by Rourke Russell late in the first frame would lead to the Bobcats' first power play of the game, which carried over to the second period.
The Wildcats killed off Bismarck's power play with aplomb and impeded a red-hot man advantage. Shortly afterwards, however, Willie Brown found himself on his second breakaway of the game. He was denied earlier, but did not falter on his second attempt as he buried a shot past Kapelmaster for his playoff-leading 14th point.
Again, it did not take long for Wichita Falls to respond after falling behind. Just over four minutes later, Ryan Burnett tipped a point shot taken by Noah Gilreath after a long surge in the Bismarck end. Burnett ended a long goalless drought with the deflection and leveled the score at 2. The Wildcats killed off another penalty before the middle period came to an end.
Dominant rushes by the Wildcats were counteracted by the play of Shepard. He had made 36 saves before Wichita Falls finally found an opening. Garrett Van Wyhe outworked the Bobcats behind the Bismarck goal line, and found Burnett wide open between the hashmarks. He unloaded a one-timer and blasted the puck just inside the right post to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game, which they'd hold onto and defeat the Central Division champs by a final of 3-2.
Kapelmaster earned his 7th straight victory of the playoffs with a 21-save performance. His counterpart Shepard denied 39 of 42 shots, but was charged with his fourth defeat of the postseason. Wichita Falls will return to Braemar Arena at 7:30 on Friday night to play Game 2 of the Robertson Cup Semi-Finals with the opportunity to eliminate the Bobcats and advance to the championship game.
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North American Hockey League Stories from May 12, 2016
- Wildcats Rally against Bobcats, Win Game 1 of Semi-Finals - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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