by: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Minot, ND – After sweeping the Austin Bruins in the first round of the Robertson Cup Playoffs on Friday the Tauros finally know who they will face in the Central Division Finals. The Bismarck Bobcats came back from down two games to one to win Games Four and Five to eliminate the Aberdeen Wings. For the first time since the Tauros joined the North American Hockey League 13 seasons ago the two bitter rivals will faceoff for the Central Cup.
After going 0-11-1 against Bismarck the Tauros have gone 73-54-14 since to bring the all-time series to 73-65-15. The Tauros and Bobcats have met in two previous playoff series, in 2015 and 2019. In both series the Tauros were the two seed in the Central Division playoff bracket and the Cats were the three seed giving the Tauros home-ice advantage. The Tauros swept both series. This year the Tauros will once again have home-ice advantage, this time as the first seed in the Central Division while the Bobcats finished second. The Tauros were 7-3-1 against Bismarck during the 2023-24 regular season with two of the losses coming on the final weekend of the regular season after the Tauros had clinched the Central Division regular season title.
The series opens up this Friday and Saturday in Minot before shifting down to Bismarck next weekend, full series schedule below. Minotauros Season Ticket Holders have the right of first refusal for their seats. If you are a Season Ticket Holder an offer for your seats is already in your Minotauros Ticketing Account, you must claim your seats before 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday or your seats will be released for sale to the general public.
Central Division Finals Schedule
Game One: Friday 5/3 at 7:35 in Minot (tickets)
Game Two: Saturday 5/4 at 7:35 in Minot (tickets)
Game Three: Friday 5/10 at 7:15 in Bismarck (tickets)
Game Four: Saturday 5/11 at 7:15 in Bismarck *if necessary
Game Five: Monday 5/13 at 7:05 in Minot *if necessary