Bismarck blasts Thunder

By Nick Gerhardt | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Saturday, November 29, 2008

The Albert Lea Thunder ran into the bandsaw that has been the Bismarck Bobcats Saturday night in Bismarck.

The Bobcats (15-8-1) registered their eighth straight win with a 6-1 victory over the Thunder at the VFW Seasons Arena in front of 888 in attendance.

Bismarck used its size to create turnovers and then its skilled players put the puck home to coast to the win.

“They really dominated us physically,” Thunder forward Jake Armijo said.

Isaiah Bennis scored the first goal for Bismarck at 15 minutes, 58 seconds in the first period on a controversial call. Albert Lea forward Niko Kapetanovic defended on the play and raised Bennis’ stick off the ice, but Bennis scored anyhow. Thunder players said it appeared he had kicked the puck in and the goal should have been disallowed.

“The first goal wasn’t a goal,” Albert Lea forward Danny Wood said. “His stick was over his head, there was no stick contact.”

The Bobcats added to their lead in the second period when Jordan Singer scored at 12:51 on an assist from Bennis to make the game 2-0 in favor of Bismarck. Less than two minutes later Joel Lundstrom found the net for the Bobcats off an assist from Jeffrey Harris and Cody Keefer.

The Thunder had its chances in the game and the shots were close after two periods. Bismarck held a 24-16 advantage in shots, but Albert Lea went 0-for-6 on the power play.

“That’s something big,” Armijo said. “That’s something as a team you have to capitalize on.”

The Thunder haven’t had a power play goal in its last four games, going 0-for-24.

The Bobcats forecheck was tough and Albert Lea couldn’t fight through it quick enough to get to rebounds.

“We had a lot of opportunities, but when we got there we were a second late,” Armijo said.

The Thunder had 19 shots in the game while Bismarck had 38.

Bismarck blocked a number of Albert Lea shots in the game, which prevented the Thunder from converting on its opportunities, Armijo said.

“Their guys were putting their body on the line,” Armijo said. “We had shots.”

Shots were being blocked at the point, Armijo said, and the team needed those shots to get to the goal for rebound opportunities.

Wood scored Albert Lea’s lone goal at 6:16 in the third period when he hooked up with Mitch Torrel. Wood skated into the right slot, received the pass from Torrel, and sent the shot low, stick-side past Bobcats goalie Matt Grogan.

Wood was disappointed in the play of the forwards in the two games.

“The forwards gave them a lot of time to move the puck,” he said. “As a forward unit we need to dig deep. We looked flat.”

Bismarck scored three more goals in the third period for the 6-1 final.

“They’re on a roll,” Thunder head coach Brad Zangs said. “They’re not just beating us, they’re beating everybody right now.”

Albert Lea won’t have much time to think about the series with Bismarck because Owatonna comes to the City Arena Sunday night. The effects of the seven-hour bus ride had its effects on the team Friday and Saturday. After getting bounced around physically, the Thunder has to come out strong against the Express, Armijo said.

“We have to come out with intensity,” Armijo said. “We have to up the hitting.”

Bismarck 6, Albert Lea 1

1st 2nd 3rd Total

Albert Lea 0 0 1 — 1

Bismarck 1 2 3 — 6

GOAL SCORING:

1st period: Bismarck — Isaiah Bennis (John Avino, Jordan Singer) 15:58

2nd period: Bismarck — Jordan Singer (Isaiah Bennis) 12:51

Bismarck — Joel Lundstrom (Jeffrey Harris, Cody Keefer) 14:44

3rd period: Albert Lea — Danny Wood (Mitch Torrel) 6:16

Bismarck — Isaiah Bennis (power play) (Jordan Singer, John Clark) 7:26

Bismarck — Tim Serratore (Jordan Singer, John Clark) 16:34

Bismarck — Ryan Dunne (John Avino) 17:39

POWER PLAY CONVERSION: Albert Lea — 0 for 6, Bismarck 1 for 5

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1st 2nd 3rd Total

Albert Lea 6 10 3 19

Bismarck 9 15 14 38