Bobcats Blast Rockers 7-1 To End Six Game Skid

WYTHEVILLE, VA

The Blue Ridge Bobcats busted out of a 6-game slump with authority, blitzing the Motor City Rockers by a whopping score of 7-1 before a crowd of over 1,000 on Blackout Night at the APEX Center.

Motor City's potent power play converted for the first goal of the game at 5:55 of the opening period, but Owen Liskiewicz stopped every shot he saw in net for Blue Ridge from then on out. His 35 saves on 36 shots faced earned him the game's third star.

A tenacious effort by team point leader Jakub Volf tied the game at 1, and Joel Frazee picked up his first professional assist on the game-tying goal. Both teams entered the second period tied at 1, but once Blue Ridge found their stride, the Bobcats never looked back.

Ricards Jelenskis, the game's second star, began the scoring onslaught 3:58 into the middle frame converting off a Savva Smirnov forced turnover behind the net and stuffing one home underneath the pad of Rockers' netminder Ricardo Gonzalez. The goal, one of two for Jelenskis on the night, were his 4th and 5th as a Bobcats in just 4 games with Blue Ridge. Just 49 seconds later, Vladislav Vlasov converted on a 1-on-0 breakaway to double the Bobcats lead, and the avalanche of goals continued from there.

Danny Martin converted on a breakaway of his own late in the second to make it a 4-1 game. Martin converted again in the third on a carbon copy breakaway goal to make it 5-1. Josh Newberg tipped home a shot by Frazee to make it 6-1, and Jelenskis blasted home a one-timer for the 7th exclamation point goal.

The Bobcats host the Rockers again at the APEX Center tomorrow night on Hometown Heroes night. Puck drop is set for 7:00.