Aberdeen 8 @ St. Cloud 5 – The Aberdeen Wings scored three unanswered goals in the first, helping to kick-start a high-scoring game against the St. Cloud Norsemen. Defense sat back in this game as we saw plenty of shots and plenty of goals by both teams. The first period was all Aberdeen as they registered 22 shots against St. Cloud goaltender Carter Gardocki, with Keaton Weis, Braydn Strom, and Payne Riffey all scoring to put the Wings out to a huge lead in the first period. St. Cloud did have nine shots in the first period, but Aberdeen goaltender William Braun stood tall and stopped everything that came his way. 
The second period was a more even affair as the shot totals went in St. Cloud’s favor 12-10, with Danish defenseman Luis Gerhoffer scoring his first goal of the season. But it was answered twofold by Aberdeen’s Filip Henriksson and Melker Hof to give the Wings a comfortable lead going into the third period. Henriksson would score another goal early in the third period to increase the lead. Just when the game was looking out of reach, St. Cloud forward Mate Tardi scored three goals in less than five minutes, two on the power play, to give himself a natural hat trick and give the Norseman some life. But it may have been short-lived, as Aberdeen defenseman Lucas Schaefer would score his first goal of the season exactly halfway through the period, and Riffey would score his second not long after to give Aberdeen their eighth goal of the night. St. Cloud’s Blake Duan would score late in the period to cut the lead to three, but they would not get another one past Braun as the Wings picked up the win 8-5. The Wins marks 800 in the storied career of Wings Head Coach and General Manager Scott Langer. Scott is the All Time Winningest Coach in NAHL History.
Both teams will play again Saturday to continue this Central Division rivalry series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm, you can watch the game on NAHLTV of head to the Aberdeen Buffalo Wild Wings. Listen on 94.1 The Rock, HubCityRadio.com or The Rock App.
