Bad Luck Follows Bobcats to Illinois
Disallowed goal in OT leads to tough loss to swallow for Ohio, as they lose in a shootout to Illinois 5-4.
The Bobcats entered a hostile environment and unique rink knowing they would have a tough game on their hands.
They were right.
In a game where no one held a lead by one than one goal, Ohio came out on the wrong side of a disallowed goal and a shootout.
Five minutes into the game, Justin Farmer scored on power-play goal to put Ohio up 1-0. Ryan Tessmer and Zach Tisdale were credited with the assists.
Towards the end of the period the Illini tied it at 1-1 when Tom Connell beat Paul Marshall on a breakaway.
Illinois jumped out to an early lead in the second, as Rob Deubel scored 28 seconds into the period.
Ohio would not be outdone.
Midway through the period, Zach Tisdale found a Mike Burda rebound right on his stick and buried the puck past the Illini goalie to tie the game at 2-2.
The score remained tied entering the third.
Connell brought the home crowd to its feet once again when he scored on a power-play to regain the lead 3-2.
It took only 28 seconds for Josh Fodor to even things up at 3-3. Tessmer assisted.
A few minutes later, Dan Cohen took the lead back to the Illini.
With time winding down, Fodor once again delivered to tie the game at 4-4. Assists went to Jake Holzemer and Tessmer.
The Bobcats began the OT session with a man advantage. With only three skaters on the ice, the Illini couldn't keep up for long as Tessmer buried the would-be game-winner.
The red light came on, the 'Cats celebrated, but on thing was missing-the ref was signaling no goal.
The referee explained to Ohio's bench that he blew the whistle moments before Tessmer lit the lamp.
After 65 minutes, this heavyweight bout still wasn't settled.
In the shootout, only one player was able to score-Tom Connell, thus propelling the Illini to the 5-4 victory.
The Bobcats will try to split the series when the puck drops Saturday evening at 7:30. Listen to the game at ohiobobcatshockey.com.