BROOKINGS – The Blizzard completed a weekend sweep over Bismarck with a 7-3 win over the Bobcats on Saturday night at Larson Ice Center.
Brookings led 2-1 after a period as Connor Koviak scored twice in the first – just 77 seconds into the game and then midway through the frame – as Cade Borchardt set up the first goal while Paul Cotter and Doug Larson assisted on the second. In between, Jeremy Gabriele lit the lamp for the Bobcats.
The Blizzard kept up the pressure in the second period as they sandwiched a pair of goals around another Bismarck tally to push their lead to 4-2 through two.
Tim Faulkner found the back of the net two minutes in before Chase Gamelin netted the puck with just over a minute left as Brenden Stanko and Nicholas Cardelli helped Faulkner and Faulkner set up Gamelin. Joseph Sardina scored with 13:06 to play in the period for the Bobcats.
Taylor Schneider pushed the Blizzard lead to three goals midway through the third period off assists from Derek Hammer and Cam Babiak but Bismarck’s Matthew Barry matched that goal 90 seconds later with a power-play tally to make it 5-3.
It took Chase Brand less than 30 seconds to push Brookings’ lead back to three goals as Cardelli and Stanko each earned another assist, and then, Stanko tacked on an insurance goal with 4:33 to play off assists from Cardelli and Brandon Kruse.
The Blizzard held a 36-30 edge in shots as Josh Boyko came up with 27 saves for the win in goal.
Brookings, which improved to 20-16-3-1 on the season, moved into third in the Central Division standings with 44 points. Bismarck has 38 points with an 18-22-1-1 mark and is in last place.
The Blizzard hit the road this weekend as they take on the division leading Minotauros in Minot on Friday and then face Bismarck on Saturday.
