BISMARCK, ND – In the first trip to the North Dakota Capital this season, the Bobcats would earn their first win over the Bruins.
Austin traveled to Bismarck for the first time this season on Friday night, as the Bobcats and Bruins would meet for the 5th time this season. 6:55 into the 1st period, Bismarck’s Eddie Shepler would be given a 5-minute major and a match penalty for boarding Matys Brassard. Brassard would leave the game and would not return for the Bruins. Bismarck would light the lamp first, as Jake McLean would tally his 11th on the season while on the Power Play to give the Bobcats a 1-0 lead to the locker room after the 1st period of play.
Bismarck would waste no time in getting another one, as Owen Michaels would snipe one past Klayton Knapp with the extra man to give the Cats a then 2-0 lead 2:41 into the 2nd period. Walter Zacher would cut the lead in half, as the Buffalo, New York native would collect his 5th of the season off a pass from newcomer Frank Tafelski. In the closing minute of the 2nd while on the Kris Heichel Team Powered by Fairway Mortgage Penalty Kills, Michal Jasenec would get the 5th short-handed goal for the Bruins this season to tie the game up at 2-2 going into the 3rd period. McLean, however, would get his second of the night and the eventual game-winner seven minutes into the 3rd period to lead Bismarck to a 3-2 victory on home ice. Knapp would stop 25 of the 28 shots he would see on the night.
Both teams are back at it tomorrow night as the Bruins look to split the weekend series. Puck drop is set for 7:15 PM CST.
