Blizzard knock off Wilderness, 3-2, in shootout

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BROOKINGS – The last-place Blizzard picked up a point in the Central Division standings with a 3-2 shootout win over the MN Wilderness on Friday night at Larson Ice Center.

Brookings, 17-23-2-4 and sitting in sixth, gets another shot to move up with a 7:05 p.m. rematch with the third-place Wilderness tonight at LIC.

The Wilderness got on the scoreboard minutes into the game when C.J. Regula found the back of the net off a Gino Lucia setup and that held up until the Blizzard’s Derek Hammer lit the lamp with less than 6 minutes to play in the second period as Cameron Teamor picked up the assist.

Gabriel Wahl’s goal with less than 4 minutes to play in the second sent the Blizzard into the second intermission with a 2-1 lead. Brendan Aird and James Hounsome set up Wahl’s goal.

Lucia found the back of the net off an Isaac Kobienea helper with less than 2 minutes to play to send the game into overtime.

Neither team could gain an advantage during the 5 minutes of extra play, setting up the shootout.

Connor Koviak netted the puck on the Blizzard’s first chance in the shootout while Adam Brizgala stopped all three Wilderness shots in the shootout to earn the win after totaling 34 saves in regulation and overtime.

Register photo: Haiden Karnick gets off a backhanded shot during the third period of the Blizzard’s 3-2 shootout win over the MN Wilderness on Friday night at Larson Ice Center. The two teams square off again tonight at LIC with the puck dropping at 7:05 p.m.