The Bismarck Bobcats take a two-game Central Division series to Riverside Arena in Austin, Minn., this weekend, facing an Austin Bruins team they beat twice at the VFW Sports Center two weeks ago. Puck drop is 7:05 p.m. Central on Friday, Oct. 30, and 6:05 p.m. Central on Saturday, Oct. 31, per the NAHL schedule.
What's at stake
Bismarck sits second in the Central at 10-3-0-0 with 20 points through 13 games, two points behind first-place Minot (11-2-0-0, 22 points), per the NAHL standings. Austin, entering Thursday's game at St. Cloud, is fourth at 6-6-1-0 with 13 points in 13 games.
The Bobcats have scored 47 goals and allowed 21, the fewest goals against in the division, according to the league standings. Austin has scored 34 and allowed 35 entering Thursday.
The season series
Bismarck took both games of the first meeting, Oct. 16-17 at the VFW: 4-0 on Friday and 2-1 in overtime on Saturday, per the NAHL schedule. That is 6-1 on aggregate for the Bobcats.
Since then
Bismarck split at St. Cloud last weekend, losing 2-1 on Oct. 23 before winning 4-1 on Oct. 24. Austin dropped two one-goal games at Minot, 2-1 on Oct. 23 and 3-2 on Oct. 24.
The season so far
- Bismarck: 10-3-0-0, 20 points, second in the Central; 5-1-0-0 at home, 5-2-0-0 on the road; won its last game, per the NAHL standings.
- Austin (entering Thursday's game at St. Cloud): 6-6-1-0, 13 points, fourth in the Central; 4-1-0-0 at home, 2-5-1-0 on the road; has lost four straight, per the NAHL standings.
- Austin plays at St. Cloud on Thursday, Oct. 29, before hosting Bismarck, so its record, standing and streak could change before Friday's game.
Next up
- Fri., Oct. 30: Bismarck at Austin, Riverside Arena, 7:05 p.m. Central.
- Sat., Oct. 31: Bismarck at Austin, Riverside Arena, 6:05 p.m. Central.
- Next home games: Aberdeen visits the VFW Sports Center Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, both at 7 p.m. Central, per the NAHL schedule.
Sources:
- NAHL schedule: game dates, times, venues and final scores
- NAHL standings: records, points, goals for and against, home/road splits and streaks