All season long coach Byron Pool has drilled home to the Bismarck Bobcats the importance of sticking to their game plan.

That message has never been more important than now. Because if the Bobcats don't play their game in the best-of-5 Central Division final series against Owatonna, he doesn't think they can beat the Express at its game.

"Last series it was two teams with a very similar style that matched up well," Pool said. "This series is a completely different matchup.

"It's black vs. white, good vs. bad, whatever you want to call it," Pool added with a laugh. "It's the top offense in the division against the top defense."

Which is why the Bobcats think they can't afford to get into a run-and-gun series with the Express.

Owatonna averaged 3.69 goals per game this season, fifth in the NAHL.

The Bobcats surrendered 2.09 goals per game, second-best in the league.

"We've got good team speed," Express coach Pat Cullen said. "We're offensively talented, but we take pride in not just being a one-dimensional team."

Owatonna's top line features Stephen Carew and John Kruse, both of whom have committed to Air Force, and Dan Cecka, a pickup from the USHL.

Carew led Owatonna with 28 goals and 54 points. Cecka had 30 points in just 26 games, including five goals in seven games against Bismarck.

"Carew is a very special player, and Cecka is a pure sniper," Pool said.

But as good as Owatonna's offense has been, it hasn't had the same success against Bismarck. The Express averaged 4.17 goals per game against the rest of the league, but 1.83 against Bismarck. And that's why the Bobcats were able to go 10-2-0 against Owatonna, although four wins have come in shootouts.

Cullen says there's no mystery surrounding Owatonna's struggles to score on the Bobcats.

He credits Bismarck's goalie duo of David Bosner and Matt Grogan.

"Their goaltending has been great all year, Cullen said. "Both kids are outstanding."

Owatonna's goaltending situation improved midseason when the Express picked up Fredrick Bergman from Des Moines of the USHL. Bergman has been solid (9-6-2, 2.56, .916) between the pipes.

"He's really helped them out and played well," Pool said. "He only makes their guys feel more confident."

The Bobcats hope to diminish that by being physical with the smaller, quicker Express.

"That's important with everybody, but especially with them," Pool said. "One of the ways to beat them is to slow them down a little bit. Any time you finish a check, that slows them down and takes a little bit of their momentum away.

"We want to be physical, but at the same time, be disciplined," he added. "We don't want to put guys like Cecka and Carew on the power play."