Bobcats Vanquish Wolves 4-2

by Brett Wiseman

Thanks to strong performances from Owen Liskiewicz in net, and the game's three stars, Zach Tatrn, Jackson Bohan and Nick McHugh, the Blue Ridge Bobcats vanquished the Watertown Wolves 4-2 for their second straight victory. A crowd of 1,029 fans filled the APEX Center for the Friday night contest.

Both teams traded chances, posts and a crossbar through a tight and scoreless first period. Tatrn opened the scoring, sniping home a top-shelf wrist shot on the power play just 2 minutes and 43 seconds into the second period. Vladislav Vlasov followed suit 11 minutes and 35 seconds later, muscling home another power play goal on the doorstep to double the Blue Ridge lead. 


Bohan, who assisted on the two prior goals, snapped home his first North American professional goal four minutes following Vlasov's marker to give the Bobcats a 3-0 advantage. Tate Leeson answered for Watertown with a power play goal less than two minutes later to bring the Wolves within two goals through 40 minutes of play.

The Bobcats held serve in the third, and added one more to the tally. 53 seconds into the final frame, Vlasov found McHugh all alone in front, who wired home his first professional goal to restore the Bobcats 3 goal lead. Jacob Black answered later on for the Wolves, but Liskiewicz stood on his head and then some in the third, stopping 17 of 18 shots faced in the final frame and 41 of 43 Watertown shots in total. McHugh, Bohan and Tatrn all three had a goal and two assists a piece.

The Bobcats will wrap up the regular season tomorrow night, and with a regulation win can eliminate Watertown from playoff contention in the Empire Division. Puck drop for Fan Appreciation Night at the APEX Center is set for 7:00.