Bobcats Split Final Weekend Heading into Playoffs

The Bismarck Bobcats closed out their regular season with a series against the Minot Minotauros capped off by the 2025 ring ceremony.  

Friday night was less than an ideal start for the Bobcats as Minot would strike twice in the opening frame, including the opening goal in the first two minutes of the game. Chase Anderson, the goalie for the Tauros, stood on his head in the first period and stopped all 12 shots he saw as Minot would take a 2-0 lead heading into the 2nd period.      

Looking at the 2nd period, it was a wild one. The Bobcats got on the board with a great move to the net by standout defenseman Jimmy Dodig, who tucked it around the pad of Anderson. The one-goal deficit lasted just 41 seconds as the Tauros would answer right back to make it a 3-1 contest, before striking on the power play to make it 4-1. Following that goal, Evan Hazleberg would be pulled from the game and Bryce Francisco would move in between the pipes. Bismarck had their work cut out for them, however, Camden Alemond would pull the Bobcats within two with an absolute snipe short-side. Bismarck would strike in the last minute once-again as Mark Evans was able to find the back of the net and make it a 4-3 game going into the 3rd. 

Heading to the 3rd period it took the Cats no time to tie it up. 25 seconds in, while on the power play, Alex Lunski was able to muscle the puck into the back of the net to make it a 4-4 hockey game. The Cats would use that momentum in the start of the period in the rest of the game as Dodig would fire home his 2nd of the game to make it 5-4 with 15:49 remaining, and the Bobcats would have their first lead of the night. Moving to the middle of the period, Will Harker struck with a snipe across the grain for his 1st career NAHL goal to make it 6-4. Tack on an empty netter and a late ppg from Minot and the Bobcats would skate away with the 7-5 win. 

Francisco would notch the win stopping 13/14 in relief. 

Moving to Saturday night, it would once again be the Minot Minotauros striking first in the contest with a goal just over 4 minutes in. Bismarck responded just seconds later with a goal from Teddy Richardson that snuck over the shoulder of Minot goaltender Brian Cooke. Minot would heavily outshoot the Bobcats in the opening 20 10-4, but the game would remain tied at 1 going into the 2nd period.  

The Tauros would find the back of the net first in the second period as NAHL futures draft pick Chase Pavlesich fired home his 2nd of the season. Once again, Bismarck would respond quickly. Just 80 seconds later, Nick Snyder made a fantastic move shorthanded and found the back of the net to tie the game at 2. Just a few minutes later, on some bad puck luck for the Cats the puck would bounce in off the skate of Patch Cronin to give Minot the 3-2 lead, which they would take into the 3rd. 

The Tauros extended their lead to two with a quick 3rd period goal from Will Nolan 56 seconds in. Richardson would fire home his 2nd of the evening 4 minutes later, but it wouldn’t be enough as Minot would win their 1st regulation game against the Bobcats all season. Shots were 30-29 in favor of the Tauros. 

The Bobcats will be the #2 seed in the Central Division Playoffs with their first round opponent, for the 3rd straight year, being the Aberdeen Wings. The playoffs begin April 17th and 18th at the VFW Sports Center. Tickets are still available, but are going fast for that weekend. Head over to tickets.bismarckbobcats.com or call/text the Bobcat Hotline at 701-390-7422.