The Bismarck Bobcats take a three-game winning streak to St. Cloud, Minn., this weekend for two games against the Central Division's last-place team, the St. Cloud Norsemen. The puck drops at 7 p.m. CT Friday, Oct. 23, and 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 24, at St. Cloud's Municipal Athletic Complex, according to the NAHL's official schedule.
What's at stake
Bismarck (9-2-0-0) and the Minot Minotauros (9-2-0-0) each have 18 points at the top of the Central Division, according to NAHL standings. The league lists Minot first; the standings break the tie on regulation wins. Behind them are Aberdeen with 14 points, Austin with 13, Watertown with 12 and St. Cloud (2-9-0-0) with 4.
The Bobcats have already won twice in St. Cloud this season. Bismarck beat the Norsemen 7-1 on Sept. 18 and 6-3 on Sept. 19, according to league results. St. Cloud has lost two straight and is 1-4-0-0 at home, the standings show.
The season so far
- Bismarck has given up 18 goals in 11 games. Among NAHL member teams, only Odessa, with 13 in nine games, has allowed fewer, according to league standings.
- The Bobcats have the best penalty kill in the NAHL. They have allowed two power-play goals in 44 times shorthanded (95.5%), per league standings.
- Bismarck's power play has scored 16 times in 52 chances (30.8%), the second-best rate in the league behind Odessa.
- Bismarck is 4-0 at its home rink, the VFW Sports Center, according to league results.
- Bismarck's only losses were a 2-1 loss to Fairbanks on Sept. 23 and a 2-0 loss at Watertown on Oct. 9.
- Last weekend, Bismarck swept Austin at home, winning 4-0 on Oct. 16 and 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 17.
Next up
- Friday, Oct. 23: Bobcats at St. Cloud Norsemen, 7 p.m. CT, Municipal Athletic Complex, St. Cloud
- Saturday, Oct. 24: Bobcats at St. Cloud Norsemen, 6:30 p.m. CT, Municipal Athletic Complex, St. Cloud
Sources: https://www.nahl.com/schedule/ · https://www.nahl.com/standings/ · https://www.nahl.com/teams/team-detail.cfm?id=6