Only the setting was different for the Blue Ridge Bobcats.
For the second consecutive night, the Bobcats fell behind the Carolina Thunderbirds by four goals Saturday and lost a Federal Prospects Hockey League playoff game.
This one ended the Wythe County team’s season as Carolina defeated the Bobcats 4-1 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to sweep their two-game FPHL quarterfinal series before a crowd of 2,550.
Just like Friday night’s 5-2 Game 1 loss in Wytheville, the Bobcats faced an early 4-0 deficit, this time courtesy of four goals in the first period by the Continental Division champions.
Carolina wasted no time as Nate Keeley scored just 1 minute, 54 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead. Jon Buttitta added a second goal for a 2-0 edge with 9:54 left in the opening period.
The Thunderbirds posted a virtually insurmountable lead by finding the back of the net twice in an 18-second span. Jordan Gagnon gave Carolina a 3-0 lead with 4:46 on the clock, followed by Petr Panacek’s second goal of the series at the 4:28 mark.
That was more than enough for goaltender Boris Babik, who registered 43 saves as the Bobcats outshot the Hurricanes 44-30. Babik, who also was credited with an assist, was voted the game’s No. 1 star.
Daniel Klinecky, who scored the eventual game-winner in Tuesday’s first-round playoff victory over Baton Rouge, finally broke through against Babik when he was assisted by Brandon Roller and Nicholas McHugh in the second period.
The Bobcats ended their second FPHL season with their first trip to the postseason. The team had a 29-27 regular-season record and set a single-game franchise attendance record with 2,407 on Friday in Game 1.
Carolina moves on to a best-of-three Continental final series against the Columbus (Ga.) River Dragons, beginning Wednesday.
Defending league champion Binghamton (N.Y.) will play Danbury (Conn.) in the best-of-three Empire Division series.
The two winners will face off in a best-of-five FPHL Commissioner’s Cup championship series.
See also:
‘This is a hockey town now.’ A playoff-bound pro team has put Wytheville on ice.
For the first time ever, a pro sports team will host a playoff game in Wytheville
FPHL PLAYOFFS
FIRST ROUND
April 15
Wytheville 5, Baton Rouge (La.) 2
Watertown (N.Y.) 4, Fraser (Mich.) 2
DIVISION SEMIFINALS
April 16
Columbus (Ga.) 7, Athens (Ga.) 4
April 18
Port Huron (Mich.) 6, Danbury (Conn.) 3
Athens 5, Columbus 3
Winston-Salem (N.C.) 5, Wytheville 2
Binghamton (N.Y.) 3, Watertown 2
April 19
Binghamton 4, Watertown 0 (Binghamton wins series 2-0)
Danbury 4, Port Huron 2
Columbus 4, Athens 2 (Columbus wins series 2-1)
Winston-Salem 4, Wytheville 1 (Winston-Salem wins series 2-0)
April 20
Danbury 2, Port Huron 1 (Danbury wins series 2-1)
