BROOKINGS – After a regular-season opening loss to Aberdeen on Friday night at the Odde Center, the Blizzard bounced back with a 5-2 win over the Wings at Larson Ice Center on Saturday.
Brookings cashed in on a power-play opportunity midway through the first period to get on the scoreboard first when Doug Larson found the back of the net off assists by Parker Revering and Chase Brand.
Aberdeen tied the game five minutes later after a goal by Colton Fletcher to make it 1-1 heading into the first intermission.
The Blizzard took control with three second-period goals.
Chase Brand lit the lamp just 34 seconds into the period with Connor Koviak and Larson earning the helpers; and then, Koviak scored at the 14:34 mark to make it 3-1 with the assist going to Josh Boyer.
Satchel Clendenin pulled the Wings within a goal with 7:06 to play in the second on a power-play score, but that was the last time Blizzard goalie Jeremy Forman would let the puck get past as he earned the win in goal.
Boyer pushed Brookings’ lead to 4-2 off a setup by Andriy Denyskin with 4:24 on the clock.
The Blizzard held off the Wings’ offense in the third period as Koviak added an unassisted empty-net goal with 13 seconds left for the final margin.
On Friday, Brookings plays host to Aberdeen once again, with the puck dropping at 7:05 p.m.
BROOKINGS 5, ABERDEEN 2
Aberdeen 1 1 0 – 2
Brookings 1 3 1 – 5
First Period
Scoring: 1. Brookings – Doug Larson (Parker Revering, Chase Brand), pp, 10:45. 1. Aberdeen – Colton Fletcher (Filip Dusek, Dusan Kmec), 6:08. Penalties: A, Marcel Zitz (Tripping), 12:07.
Second Period
Scoring: 2. Brookings – Chase Brand (Connor Koviak, Doug Larson), 19:26. 3. Brookings – Connor Koviak (Josh Boyer), 14:34. 2. Aberdeen – Satchel Clendenin (Dusan Kmec), pp, 7:06. 4. Brookings – Josh Boyer (Andriy Denyskin), 4:24. Penalties: A, Dusan Kmec (Cross-checking), 14:32; B, Cameron Teamor (Cross-checking), 14:32; A, Zach Noble (Roughing), 7:42; B, Ryan Dickenson (Head contact), 7:42; B, Tyler Hinterser (Rounging), 7:42; A, Ricky Carballo (Fighting-Major), 5:57; B, Doug Larson (Fighting-Major), 5:57; A, Jack Kelly (Tripping), 4:06; B, Josh Boyer (Head contact), 0:27; B, Jake Tesarowski (Hooking), 0:27.
Third Period
Scoring: 5. Brookings – Connor Koviak (unassisted), en, 0:13. Penalties: A, Dusan Kmec (Head contact), 15:47; A, Daniel Pavlicko (Delay of game), 9:49.
