Bad bounce of puck foils Central in 2-1 loss to Bismarck High

• Grand Forks Herald Jason Stadstad Hockey Classic

Grand Forks Herald Jason Stadstad Hockey Classic

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A funny bounce of the puck has bounced Grand Forks Central from the winner’s bracket at the Grand Forks Herald Jason Stadstad Hockey Classic.

Bismarck High’s Jared Spooner was credited with a goal with 4 minutes, 6 seconds left in the third period to lift the Demons to a 2-1 win over Grand Forks Central on Wednesday in the tournament’s first round at the Ralph Engelstad Arena’s Olympic rink.

Bismarck’s game-winner came on a pass to the slot that deflected off a skate and past unsuspecting Central goalie Taner Bender, who finished with 27 saves.

The Demons advance to the semifinals against EGF Senior High at 4:30 p.m., while Central falls to the consolation round against Bismarck Century at noon. All of Thursday’s games are in Purpur Arena.

Central pulled Bender with a minute to go. Despite a handful of late charges, the Knights couldn’t put one past Demons netminder Brandt Haskell, who stopped 24 shots in his second-straight start in goal. It was the junior’s first two starts of the year.

“Our effort was a lot better today and we were creating offense with our feet, but we weren’t shooting enough and not hungry enough to go to the net,” Central coach Tony Bina said. “That’s the biggest issue. We have to correct that.”

Bina felt the final sequence was continued proof of that point.

“There again, guys stand and watch instead of getting dirty,” Bina said. “That’s when you have to outnumber. We gave Bismarck chances to get the puck out.”

Central, which has lost four straight, dropped to 2-4, while Bismarck High improved to 6-2. It was the Demons’ first win over an East Region opponent after starting the year with losses to Fargo North and West Fargo.

The Knights snagged the early lead when sophomore defender Casey Johnson notched his first point of the season with an unassisted goal at 14:59 of the opening period.

After a scoreless second period, the Demons evened the score on a goal from Brandon Oliver just eight seconds into the third period. Oliver, a senior forward, scored his sixth goal of the season.

Bismarck’s late bounce spoiled a strong outing from Bender, a freshman. The Demons entered the game scoring at least six goals in each of its last five games, including a pair of eight-goal outbursts.

“It was unfortunate that way,” Bina said. ”Taner played very well. He made a big play in the second period. I’m still not sure how he made that save.”

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