Blizzard drop two to division-leading Wings

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BROOKINGS/ABERDEEN – It was a tough weekend for the Blizzard against the Central Division-leading Wings as Brookings dropped two games – 3-1 at Larson Ice Center on Friday night, and then, a 2-1 shootout loss at the Odde Center in Aberdeen on Saturday night.

The two losses drop Brookings to 20-27-2-5 on the season with 47 points while the Wings improve to 35-15-3-1 with 74 points.

The Blizzard, sixth in the division standings, play host to the third-place MN Wilderness in a two-game set this weekend. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. both Friday and Saturday at LIC.

Saturday

• Aberdeen 2, Brookings 1 (SO)

Just like the night before, neither team netted the puck in the first 20 minutes and the Blizzard got on the scoreboard first at the Odde Center.

Brock Draeger found the back of the net 2 1/2 minutes into the second as Gabriel Wahl and Ben Perkins picked up the assists as Brookings led 1-0 through two.

With 2 1/2 to play in the game, Zach Noble’s goal sent the game into extra time, where neither team scored.

In the shootout, Vince Marino came up empty on the Blizzard’s first chance, but so did Joe Strada for the Wings.

Connor Koviak netted the puck on his try, as did Noble to keep Aberdeen even.

But the Wings won when Max Sasson missed and Jonathan Bendorf didn’t for the 3-2 advantage and the shootout win.

Aberdeen outshot the Blizzard, 42-26, as Gabe Vinal finished with 25 saves for the win. Adam Brizgala had 40 saves for Brookings.

Friday

• Aberdeen 3, Brookings 1

After a scoreless first period, the Blizzard converted on a power-play attempt 7 minutes into the second period to get on the board when Sasson lit the lamp off assists by Cameron Teamor and Doug Larson.

The Wings tied the game on Bendorf’s goal with less than 6 minutes left in the period to send the game into the final frame tied at 1-1.

Nathan Burke’s goal with less than 3 minutes to play gave Aberdeen a 2-1 lead, and then the Wings took advantage of an empty net to add an insurance goal as Bendorf found the back of the net with 57 seconds to play.

Aberdeen outshot the Blizzard, 37-22, as Matt Vernon earned the win in net with 21 saves and Brizgala stopped 34 of the 36 shots that he faced in the loss.