A hat trick by Natan Vertes and a shutout by goalie Jacob Sibell pushed the Aberdeen Wings to a 7-0 road win against the Minot Minotauros Friday night.
The big win keeps the undefeated Wings, now 9-0-0-0, at the top of the Central Division. Minot falls to 4-1-1-1.
Vertes got the scoring started at the 7:29 mark in the first period off an assist from Clayton Cosentino and Thomas Manty. Then, just 16 seconds later, Liam Fraser found the back of the net unassisted to put the Wings up 2-0.
Vertes once again got the scoring started in the second period, making quick work with just just eleven seconds ticked off the game clock. He was assisted on the goal by Cosentino and Marshall Walker. Cosentino added a goal of his own at the 12:52 mark, assisted by Vertes and Manty.
Vertes wasn’t done claiming points just yet as he added his third goal of the game on the power play with just 15 seconds left in the second period. Cade Neilson and Jordan Randall assisted Vertes on his hat trick and the Wings headed into the locker room leading 5-0.
The Wings continued the scoring barrage into the third period, starting with a goal from Neilson at the 13:32 mark. He was assisted by Manty and Ben Badalamenti. The final goal of the game came from Spencer Schneider with just over three minutes left of play. Trevor Russell picked up the assist, along with Cosentino, who notched his fourteenth assist of the season.
“The staff was really happy with our ability to get off the bus in a tough environment and play a full 60 minutes,” head coach Scott Langer said. “When you play the right way, it gives you the ability to score goals.”
The Wings took serious advantage of the power play, putting away three of four opportunities. Sibell stopped all 22 shots he faced. The Wings held Minot to just four shots in the first period, eight in the second and ten in the third.
“Tonight, this team fully bought into limiting the chances against,” Langer said.
The Wings and the Minotauros will have a rematch Saturday, Nov. 21 in Minot. Puck drops at 7 p.m. Fans can listen to game audio on Hub City 94.1 The Rock or watch via their HockeyTV subscription. Fans can also catch the game live at Buffalo Wings & Rings in Aberdeen.