Bobcats Sweep Breakers (4/4)

BILOXI, MS - In the final home game at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, the Breakers looked to put on a show and send off the home crowd with a big victory. Hindered by bad discipline and limited pressure, the Breakers fell by a final of 7-1 as the Bobcats swept the season series. 

The Breakers came out hot to begin the first period, logging the first 4 shots on net but still searching for the first punch. The momentum subsided when Cristian Glowazcki was booked for a trip, opening up a Bobcat powerplay. Although they didn’t score, Blue Ridge stole the tempo and created all kinds of pressure on rookie Rob Holden, making his professional debut for Biloxi. At 8:20, off a hectic end to end play, a Demid Podrezov stretch pass connected with Nikita Kozyrev who buried the breakaway goal to give the visitors an early 1-0 advantage. Holden settled in and made some big saves to keep it tight, but the Bobcats offense felt inevitable. At 17:14, just as their 2nd powerplay had expired, Justin Daly finished a rebound in the blue paint to double the margin at 2-0. Blue Ridge outshot Biloxi 21-8 in the opening frame. 

Period 2 didn’t do Biloxi any favors. Just 130 seconds into the frame, Nicholas Stuckless continued the offensive fireworks with a 4-on-4 tally to improve the Blue Ridge lead to 3-0. The Breakers were victim to 7 minor penalties in the middle frame alone, which did them no favors for momentum or puck possession. At 7:07 and back on the powerplay, Daniel Martin fired a shot from the bumper position off the back bar and out to make it 4-0. The goal marks point #60 for Martin, a new career high. Into the backhalf, at 12:59 on the powerplay Justin Daly finished a loose puck from in tight to elevate the visitor’s lead to 5-0. Blue Ridge outshot Biloxi 25-5 in the middle frame, and 46-13 thus far in the contest. 

Period 3 began with a Breakers powerplay rolling over from period 2, and with it a great opportunity to score. 88 seconds in, Matthew Horan unleashed a howitzer one-timer from the far point to beat Anthony Shrum between the legs and make it 5-1. The answer came quickly. 42 seconds later Stephen Alvo avenged his penalty with a beautiful wrist shot over the glove side of Rob Holden to make it 6-1. 1:45 later and back on the powerplay, Nick Stuckless tallied his 2nd mark of the night to cement the scoring at 7-1. Both teams had chances the rest of the way, and the physicality certainly was coming to a boil. As the final horn sounded, there were a handful of scrums extending the night for the linesmen, but no penalties assessed. Blue Ridge carried their 7-1 win to the bus with a 61-26 shot advantage in full time. Rob Holden made 54 saves in his pro debut, while Anthony Shrum stopped 25 en route to victory. 

The Bobcats sweep the 6 game season series with the Breakers, and extend their franchise record win streak to 9 games. They improve to 31-20-3, and inch closer to securing the #3 seed in the Empire Division. To close out the regular season, Blue Ridge is set for a home and home series next Friday and Saturday with the Twin City Thunderbirds. The Breakers fall to 8-43-2, and will conclude their 2025-26 campaign this upcoming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday on the road in Baton Rouge.