BISMARCK, ND – Justin Misiak’s first period goal would be the only one the Bruins would get, as the Bobcats scored five straight to cruise to a 5-1 win and snap a six game losing streak on Friday night at VFW Sports Center.
Misiak’s goal came at 9:43 of the first period to open the scoring. Some good work by linemates AJ Drobot and Tanner DuFault produced a rebound that Misiak cashed in on. The Bruins couldn’t take their lead into the intermission despite a 12-3 shot edge as Jared Resseguie would tie the game at 17:53.
After over 18 minutes of a scoreless second period, Matthew Berry broke the tie, intercepting a pass through the neutral zone and skating around Paul O’Connor, before roofing a shot over Alex Schilling’s glove and giving Bismarck a 2-1 lead that stood up through 40 minutes.
Early in the 3rd, it appeared as if Dante Zapata had tied the game with a shorthanded goal when his shot from the slot trickled off of Bismarck goaltender Camden Haugenoe and into the net, but referee Cameron Fleming blew the whistle first and despite initially calling it a goal anyway, it was waived off after official congregation. Moments later, controversy arose again when Nick Alexander lifted a puck over a sprawling Schilling and into the Bruins goal crease where Misiak attempted to make a desperation save, but a late signal indicated a good goal and Bismarck led 3-1. From there, Tanner Breidenbach and Tristan Ashbrook would add on and bring the final score to 5-1. Bismarck outshot the Bruins 28-21, marking their first win when outshooting their opponent this season.
The Bruins and Bobcats play the final game of the first half on Saturday night, a 7:15 start from VFW Sports Center again.
