The Aberdeen Wings completed the road series sweep of the #1 ranked Austin Bruins with a 4-3 shootout win Saturday night.
The Wings entered the game one point behind Austin for the top spot in the NAHL Central Division. The first period seemed to be similar to Friday night's 1-0 OT win for the Wings. After 20 minutes, there would be no score. Wings head coach Francis Anzalone stated after the first period that the team wanted to get better on special teams and capitalize on scoring chances.
In the second period, the Wings would get on the board. At the 5:18 mark, Wings forward #19 Colin O'Neill (F-Odenton, MD) took the puck into the zone, leaving it for #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson (F-Reykjavik, Iceland) who would leave a wide open shot for #20 Jack Nile (F-Lisle, IL). The Wings would take a 1-0 lead. Within seconds, the Wings would go on the attack again. Wings forward #12 Austin Heakins (F-Mars, PA) would find #8 Drew Doyon (F-Indianapolis, IN) for the goal and a 2-0 lead. After the face-off, the Wings would not hold back making another push. Wings forward #16 Kyle Haak (F-Okemos, MI) would go full speed towards the net trying to get the centering pass. Stopping in crease, the Austin goaltender would fall down sparking the crowd wanting a penalty. From that moment on, the physical play of this game would go into overdrive. The Aberdeen Wings held to their game not falling into the extra activity inticed by Austin. The Bruins would get on the board back-to-back with loose puck goals making it 2-2. At the 17:58 mark, the Wings would regain control of the puck and go on the attack. Wings forward #16 Kyle Haak would find #24 Ronnie Hein (F-Chelsea, MI) for the goal making it 3-2.
The entire third period would also be a physical matchup. With 3:53 left on the clock in regulation, the Austin Bruins would tie up the game with a goal from Bachnak. Regulation would end in a 3-3 tie going into overtime. The overtime period would also be scoreless and the two teams would go into a shootout.
SHOOTOUT:
Wings – #16 Kyle Haak – GOOD
Bruins – #12 Josh Wilkins – NO
Wings – #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson – GOOD
Bruins – #11 Luke Dietsch – NO
Wings – #13 Michael Soucier – NO
Bruins – #23 Brian Bachnak – NO
Wings – #10 Tanner Okeson – GOOD
The shootout win moves the Aberdeen Wings to (6-2-0) after defeating the #1 ranked Austin Bruins.
ABERDEEN WINGS Stars of the Game
3rd Star – #15 Brendan Riordan (D-Downers Grove, IL)
2nd Star – #8 Drew Doyon (F-Indianapolis, IN)
1st Star – #16 Kyle Haak (F-Okemos, MI)
BUTLER CAT WINGS HIT OF THE GAME
#29 Matt Sherman (D-White River, MI)
The Aberdeen Wings host the Austin Bruins next Friday and Saturday at the Odde Ice Center. General admission $10, Reserved seating $12. Doors open at 5:30pm with early bird beer specials, Wings ProShop opens, and enjoy pre-game festivities.