ABERDEEN, SD – In a penalty ridden matchup it was special teams that helped the Aberdeen Wings (5-2-0-0, 10pts) prevail 3-1 over the Austin Bruins (5-2-0-0, 10 pts) on Saturday.
After a Friday night that saw the Bruins record just 18 total shots, the Black and Gold fired 14 pucks at the net in the opening frame on Saturday none of which found the back of the net.
It was the second period that saw both teams bounce back and forth on the power play, with Aberdeen veteran Brody Dustin scoring first at 10:44 after a Hugo Thulin minor for hooking.
The Bruins tied things up on their fifth power play chance when both Philip Larsson fired one off the pad of Aberdeen’s Willum Braun that bounced to Viktor Olihn. Olihn too would be denied before Brett Ludvigsen flipped it bye Braun for the equalizer, Ludvigsen’s first power play goal of the year.
Just over a minute later is when chaos broke loose at the Odde Ice Center. A checking from behind penalty led to some after whistle extracurricular’s that saw five Bruins and four Wings sent to the penalty box and Aberdeen’s Campbell Epp tossed from the game.
With the game equal, the Bruins were on the kill early in the third after Olihn was called for a tripping minor that the Black and Gold successfully killed.
A late tripping call on Gus Elbert would put Austin shorthanded once again and it was first year Wing Caeden Heins who cut towards the net to score with just over three minutes left in regulation.
The Bruins would pull netminder Dilans Birkans for the extra skater but couldn’t beat Braun before Jonathan Doucette tapped in the empty netter to secure the weekend split.
The final combined tally of penalty minutes totaled 132 between the two teams with Austin’s penalty kill successfully fighting off four of Aberdeen’s six power plays.
The Bruins return home next weekend to face off with the Minot Minotauros on October 9th and 10th. Friday’s puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 pm from Riverside Arena in Austin, with Saturday’s game set to start at 6:05 pm. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting tickets.austinbruins.com.
