BISMARCK, N.D. – Despite putting 29 shots on goal, John Roberts proved to be too hot for the Austin Bruins to handle as the Bismarck Bobcats won on home ice, 5-0.
Much like Friday night, the Bruins fell down early in the first with Bismarck getting on the board only two minutes and 20 seconds into the game. Adam Stacho broke into the zone and fed a cutting Daniel Schladek who deked past Austin netminder Kyle McClellan and tucked it into the open net for the games first goal. The Bruins defense buckled down for the remainder of the period while the offense ramped up, and despite outshooting the Bobcats 12-9 in the first the Bruins found themselves trailing at the end of one period, 1-0.
In the second, the Bruins continued to probe the Bismarck back end, slingshot after shot on goaltender John Roberts but Roberts was up to the task each and every time. Late in the second, Bismarck added to their lead when Chladek found the back of the net for the second time on the night, this time pounding home a close-proximity goal up and over the left leg of McClellan who had already made numerous saves in the sequence.
In the third, already with the lead 2-0, the Bobcats continued to pour it on. Ryan Robinson scored his third goal of the season, Adam Stacho found twine for the second consecutive night, and on the powerplay late in the period, Kirlan Irey pushed one home on a tic-tac-toe passing play.
The Bruins ultimately fired 29 shots on John Roberts but could not solve the veteran netminder who was appearing in his 100th career NAHL game. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 23-14-0-6 while Bismarck improves to 23-18-1-0.
The Bruins are back to home cooking this weekend as they play host to the Minot Minotauros. It proves to be one of the biggest series of the season for the black-and-gold as Minot’s sweep of the Wilderness helped the Minotauros take second place in the NAHL Central while pushing the Bruins down to third.
Friday, February 15 is Couple’s Night while Saturday, February 16 is Hockey Day with the Bruins. Tickets for both games at Riverside Arena go on sale Monday at 10 A.M. at all the Bruins vendors including Games People Play, Hy-Vee, Holiday Inn, and Jim’s Marketplace.
