A slow start doomed the Austin Bruins as they lost to the Bismarck Bobcats 6-2 in the regular season finale in Riverside Arena Saturday.

Bismarck (34-21-3-2 overall) scored three goals over a 10-minute stretch in the first period as it jumped out to a 4-1 lead.

The Bruins (32-22-0-6 overall) finish the season in fourth place in the NAHL Central Division and they will open the postseason against top seeded Aberdeen this week.

SCORING SUMMARY

Bismarck 4 0 2 – 6
Austin  1 1 0 – 2

First period
(B) George Grannis (Hunter Olson, Carl Fish) 3:21
(A) Jared Christy (Dante Zapata, Josef Mysak) 5:30
(B) Daniel Chladek (Alex Pollock, Sam Malinski) 10:33
(B) Ryan Taylor (Willy Stauber, Blaine Warnert) 16:05
(B) Malinski (Austin Jouppi, Adam Sacho) (power play) 19:35

Second period
(A) Reginald Millette (Devon Fields) 9:13

Third period
(B) Daniel Chladek (Alex Pollock, Willy Stauber) 4:54
(B) Andy Stoneman (Jack Olsen) 17:30

Shots: Austin – 19; Bismarck – 26
Power plays: Austin – 0-for-3; Bismarck 1-for-2