BISMARCK, N.D. – The Bismarck Bobcats scored three unanswered goals to defeat the Aberdeen Wings 5-3 in fifth and deciding game of their NAHL Central Division hockey series Monday night.
The setback ended a strong close to the season for the Wings, who took a nine-game winning streak into the playoffs and defeated the top team in the league on its home ice back-to-back to set the tone for a stellar series that saw three games decided in overtime and the other two go right down to the wire.
“I’m proud of how our group played the last month and a half,” said Wings coach Scott Langer. “They proved to be a top team once again in the league.”
After Bismarck scored the first goal of the game in the second period, Aberdeen responded with back-to-back goals from Ryder Many Grey Horses on an assist from Jibber Kuhl and Briggs Orr, before Kuhl found the back of the net to take a 2-1 advantage an assists from Sebastian Lillsund and Gavin Reed.
The Bobcats tied the game at 2-2 before Bryce Johnson put the Wings back on top later in the period on assists from Leonid Bulgakov and Nikolai Tishkevich.
However, the hosts scored a key goal in the closing minutes of the second period to tie the score at 3-3 heading into the final period.
The score remained deadlocked until Bismarck broke the tie with four minutes remaining.
It appeared that Aberdeen had scored the game-tying goal with just over a minute remaining, but it was disallowed assuring that Bismarck maintained its lead.
“Tough to swallow tying the game up to have it disallowed,” Langer said. “These guys deserved better than that.”
The Bobcats tacked on an empty net goal in the closing seconds for the final margin of victory.
Damon Cunningham stopped 24 shots in goal for the Wings.
“We will improve and become stronger as an organization and be back to contend,” Langer said.
Bismarck will host Austin this weekend to start their best of five divisional finals. Like Bismarck, Austin rallied to win the final three games of its series against Minot, taking Monday night’s game 5-1.
To see a complete box score, click on the following link:
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