The St. Cloud Norsemen opened the 2022 North American Hockey League Robertson Cup Playoffs presented by Premier Real Estate with a 4-1 victory over the Bismarck Bobcats in the Central Division semifinals in Game 1 last Friday, before falling 2-1 in a hard-fought double-overtime Game 2 on Saturday.
The series turns to the road now for St. Cloud, who travels to Bismarck for Games 3 and 4 of the best-of-five first round series on Friday & Saturday, April 29-30 at 7:15 p.m. CT. If a Game 5 is necessary, it will be played in St. Cloud on Monday, May 2, time TBD.
The Norsemen captured the 4-1 victory in Game 1 to record the first playoff victory for the franchise since the move to St. Cloud. Princeton, MN native and Northern Michigan commit Blake Perbix tallied two goals and an assist in the playoff opener, while defensemen Broten Sabo and Nick Young each lit the lamp. Goaltender Tomas Bolo notched his 30th win of the season, making 23 saves in the victory.
On Saturday, Bismarck opened the scoring in the first and the teams battled on without another goal until Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey Max Strand fired home his first NAHL playoff goal at 6:39 of the third to tie the game and force overtime. Bolo and Bobcats netminder Oskar Spinnars Nordin were stalwarts in goal, holding each others teams off the board through one overtime and into the second. The Bobcats broke through with a goal by Ben Troumbly with 5:54 left in double overtime.
With the series even at 1-1, the Norsemen travel to Bismarck this weekend, in search of two victories to clinch the opening playoff series.
Norsemen fans traveling to Bismarck for the games can purchase tickets here: https://boxoffice.diamondticketing.com/bismarckbobcats/events
Games will be broadcast live for subscribers on HockeyTV with Voice of the Norsemen, Ashley Chase.
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