Storyline
While both teams have their sights set on a bigger prize, Saturday night’s game in Bismarck will decide the Subway North Dakota Cup. The teams are currently tied in the season series with 12 points each as the Tauros are 6-5-0 and the Bobcats are 5-4-2. More importantly the Tauros and Bobcats are battling for playoff position with the Austin Bruins. The Tauros currently sit in second place with 63 points, the Bruins are third with 62, and the Bobcats are in fourth with 60 points. The trio have pulled away from the Minnesota Wilderness who still have an outside shot at the playoffs with 51 points, but with just 10 games to play their chances are small.
Tauros
The Tauros have won 13 of their last 16 games and jumped up to second place in the Central. Reigning player of the week Didrik Henbrant had the shootout game winner on Wednesday night to cap the Tauros come-from-behind victory over the Bobcats. Andrew Kangas scored the game tying goal with just 3:21 left in regulation to force overtime and the eventual shootout. Nicholas Grabko allowed just one Bismarck goal while making several highlight reel saves to earn the win. Taylor Lantz has led the Tauros against the Cats with 10 points in as many games; he is tied with Keenan Lund, Wilmer Skoog, and David Raisanen for a team best four goals against the Cats as well.
Bobcats
The Bobcats have been the hottest team in the NAHL earning at least a point in 11 consecutive games going 8-0-3. The Tauros have done a good job defensively against Bobcats’ leading scorer Adam Stacho holding him to a goal and three assists. Austin Jouppi however has been a Tauro killer with five goals and six assists in just eight of the games in the season series. John Roberts, who nearly shutout the Tauros on Wednesday, has also been great against the Tauros posting a 5-3-2 record and a .940 save percentage.
Watch and Listen
Tonight’s game will be on all three outlets of the Minotauros Network: HockeyTV.com, AM 1390 KRRZ, and the “Listen Live” tab atop this page. The Famers Union Pregame Show starts at 7:00 p.m. for a 7:15 puck drop.