The Austin Bruins let a third period lead slip away when they lost 3-2 to the Bismarck Bobcats (30-19-2 overall) on the road Friday.

Alex Pollock scored to put Bismarck (32-16-0-6 overall) up 3-2 with 2:23 left in the game.

Dante Zapata put the Bruins (31-17-0-6 overall) on top when he scored early in the third to make it 2-1, but Bismrack tied it when Austin Jouppi scored just eight minutes later.

Kyle McClellan had 23 saves as he took the loss for Austin.

The Bruins have clinched a playoff spot and are now one point behind the Bobcats in the NAHL Central.

Austin has five games remaining in the regular season and all of them are on the road.

SCORING SUMMARY

Austin 1 0 1 –  2

Bismarck 0 1 2 –  3

First period

(A) Hugh Larkin 4:56

Second period

(B) Tim Piechowski (Jacob Marti, Willy Stauber) 11:16

Third period

(A) Dante Zapata 1:12

(B) Austin Jouppi (Adam Stacho, Sam Malinski) 9:52

(B) Alex Pollock (Stacho) 17:47

Shots: Austin – 32; Bismarck – 26

Power plays: Austin – 0-for-2; Bismarck – 1-for-3