The Aberdeen Wings hosted the Minnesota Magicians for their final home game of the regular season on Saturday night. The Wings have clinched home-ice in the 2014 playoffs which will begin April 4th.
Last night’s game saw the Wings outshoot the Magicians 51-19 for a 3-2 overtime victory. But Saturday’s victory for the Wings almost was derailed by the Magicians in a late game comeback. The Wings would prevail in a shootout win 7-6.
In the first period, the Wings would get on the board at 13:26 mark with a goal from #8 Drew Doyon (F-Indianapolis, IN). The assists would go to #4 Jake Horton (D-Plymouth, MN) and #22 Zach Doerring (F-Chanhassen, MN). A few minutes later, Wings forward #27 Erik Baskin (F-Minnetonka, MN) who scored two goals last night would find the back of the net thanks to a dish from #18 Austin Swingle (F-Sartell, MN). The Wings outshot the Magicians in the first period 17-5 and would lead 2-0.
The second period would see the Magicians get on the scoreboard with a goal from Dylan Dailey, a former Aberdeen Wings defenseman. At the 10:54 mark, Wings defenseman #10 Tanner Okeson (D-Roseau, MN) would score thanks to assists from #19 Colin O’Neill (F-Odenton, MD) and #16 Kyle Haak (F-Okemos, MI). The Wings would lead 3-1 at that point but would get another with just two minutes left in the period off a fireball slapshot from #3 Daniel Billett (F-Highlands Ranch, CO). The goal would come on the power play with assists to #10 Tanner Okeson and #19 Colin O’Neill.
In the final period of regulation, the Wings leading 4-1 would get another power play goal. This time from #4 Jake Horton making it 5-1. But then the Minnesota Magicians would create some buzz. At the 7:08 mark, Magicians forward Nick Kuchera would score. Seconds later, the Magicians would punch in another one off the stick of Colin Hernon. Now 5-3, the Wings would make a push to get that extra goal. At the 13:32 mark, Wings forward #8 Drew Doyon would beat the Magician goaltender with a rocket making it 6-3. After a timeout, the Minnesota Magicians got the right game plan worked out and would score three unanswered goals in the final five minutes of the game. Goals would come from Matt Colford, Dylan Dailey, and Thomas Delaney. As the final seconds of regulation ticked away, the Magicians had tied it up sending the game into overtime.
The overtime period would be a back-and-forth battle with neither team finding the game winning goal. Now it would head to a shootout.
After misses three misses, Wings forward #11 TJ Roo (F-Coon Rapids, MN) would score in the shootout. Wings goaltender #30 Henry Dill (G-Columbus, OH) would make the ensuing save giving the Wings the sweep over the Magicians and a 7-6 shootout win and their 9th straight home victory.
The Aberdeen Wings will now travel to Wenatchee, Washington to take on the Wild in the final two regular season games. The Wings have clinched home-ice for the first round of the 2014 NAHL Playoffs. The Wings will have guaranteed home games on Friday, April 4th and Saturday, April 5th. Tickets for the playoff games go on-sale Tuesday at the Wolf Stop, all C-Express locations, or by calling 605-380-5852.
BUTLER-CAT HIT OF THE GAME
Aberdeen #3 Daniel Billett (D-Highlands Ranch, CO)
SOUTH DAKOTA WHEATGROWERS STARS OF THE GAME
3RD STAR – Aberdeen #10 Tanner Okeson (D-Roseau, MN)
2ND STAR – Aberdeen #11 TJ Roo (F-Coon Rapids, MN)
1ST STAR – Aberdeen #8 Drew Doyon (F-Indianapolis, IN)
Following the game, the Wings held their annual jersey auction selling the black game-worn jerseys. After each black jersey had been auctioned off, Wings flag bearer Parker Odde offered up his jersey will all proceeds going to the Zach Kraft Fund.