In what has been their best NA3HL campaign to-date, the Butte Cobras (19-26-2-0) wrapped up their regular season last weekend in Sheridan with a two-game sweep over the Hawks. Finishing with 40 points, Butte ended up in sixth place of the Frontier Division.
In the series opener against Sheridan the Cobras offense was firing on all cylinders as they cruised to an 8-0 victory. Cade Wessman finished with a hat trick and an assist while Nick Bradshaw chipped in with a pair of goals and a helper. Caleb Cross made 28 saves to earn his first shutout.
Bradshaw would net the hat trick the following night to finish the regular season with 42 goals. He is now the all-time leading goal scorer in Butte Cobras history.
With another pair of assists in the finale Wessman (18 goals, 58 assists) finished the season as the team’s leading scorer with 78 points.
The Cobras chase for fifth place came down to the final whistle. Beginning their finale in a virtual tie for the spot with Badlands Sabres, Butte needed a victory along with a Sabres regulation loss. Unfortunately for the Cobras the shorthanded Sabres (19-25-2-1) played a 2-2 regulation tie before falling in a shootout against Gillette Wild.
Up next for the Cobras is a first round playoff series against the third seeded Bozeman Icedogs (26-17-3-1). The teams will meet in a best-of three series this weekend.
Game 1: Friday 7:30 PM at Bozeman
Game 2: Saturday 7:30 PM at Butte
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday 4:00 PM at Bozeman