The Austin Bruins struggled out of the gates and they couldn’t catch up as they lost 5-1 in the first game of the NAHL Central Division semifinals in Bismarck Friday.

The Bobcats scored in the first minute of the game and they led 3-0 after the first period to take control early on.

Jacob Paganelli scored Austin’s lone goal in the third period.

Austin will have a chance to bounce back in game two at Bismarck 7:15 p.m. Saturday and the Bruins will host games three and four May 6 and May 7.

Kristofer Carlson had 13 saves on 18 shots in the loss for Austin and Robbie Goor stopped all three of the shots he saw in relief.

SCORING SUMMARY

Austin 0 0 1 — 1

Bismarck 3 1 1 — 5

First period

(B) Solag Bakich (Willie Brown) 0:44

(B) Alex Strand (power play) (Patrik Demel, Brown) 13:27

(B) Parker Mismash (Frankie Melton) 17:19

Second period

(B) Aaron Herdt (Solag Bakich, Brown) 1:12

Third period

(B) Alex Strand (Garrett Nelson, Tobias Fladeby) 5:31

(A) Jacob Paganelli 7:21

Shots: Austin — 26; Bismarck — 21

Power plays: Austin — 0-for-2; Bismarck — 1-for-2