BISMARCK, N.D. – The Bruins battled back to tie the game after falling into an early hole, but the black-and-gold couldn’t get past the shootout as they dropped their first game in Bismark this season, 3-2, to the Bobcats.
The first period was one mostly controlled by the home-team Bobcats and the scoreboard showed. The game’s first goal of the night came off the stick of Nicolas Appendino who’s fluttering, end-over-end, shot fooled Bruins goalie Kyle McClellan and gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. Later in the first, Adam Stacho was able to bury a 2-on-1 chance past a sliding McClellan to increase the Bismarck lead to 2-0.
The second period, however, was all Austin. The Bruins came out of the locker room refocused and began their battle back. Six and half minutes into the second, Dante Zapata made a great individual play, keeping the puck in along the blue line and skating into the slot. After a couple nifty moves, Zapata slid the puck past John Roberts for the Bruins first goal of the night and subsequently cutting the Bismarck lead in half, 2-1. A little over 11 minutes later, the newest Bruin, Ben Almquist, endeared himself to his team by scoring his first goal in the black and gold. Almquist was able to get a shot off which got past the short side shoulder of Roberts and hit just inside the post, tying the game at two.
After a scoreless third period, the teams were thrust into overtime but a winner couldn’t be decided in three-on-three, requiring a shootout. After three rounds, the Bobcats found themselves victorious after Adam Stacho and Sam Malinski each scored while the Bruins could only get a tally from Ben Almquist. With the loss, the Bruins move to 23-13-6 on the season while Bismarck improves to 22-18-1-0.
The two teams will hit the ice again tomorrow for an encore before the Bruins head back to Austin for two games against the Minot Minotauros. Tickets for Friday and Saturday night’s games will go on sale at 10 A.M. on Monday, February 11 at all the Bruins vendors including Games People Play, Hy-Vee, Holiday Inn, and Jim’s Marketplace.
