ABERDEEN – Tyler Bossert netted a natural hat trick in the second period as the Wings beat the Blizzard 6-3 Thursday night at Odde Ice Center to move into a third-place tie in the NAHL Central Division Standings.
Brookings struck first via Chase Brand’s goal 5 1/2 minutes into the game. Nicholas Cardelli and Brendan Stanko assisted.
But Aberdeen answered with three consecutive goals – Joey Strada, Colton Fletcher and Colin Raver (power play) each lit the lamp – to move ahead 3-1.
The Blizzard pulled within 3-2 early in the second on Paul Cotter’s 25th goal of the season. Doug Larson and Stanko were credited with assists.
Bossert took over after that, scoring three times in a 7-minute, 39-second span to put the Wings ahead 6-2. One of the goals came on a power play and another was short handed.
Brookings closed out the scoring midway through the third as Connor Koviak found the back of the net on a power play on assists from Tim Faulkner and Taylor Schneider.
Aberdeen goalie Forbes Ploszaj made 28 saves to earn the win. Dusan Kmec, Carter Roo and Logan Jenuwine were each credited with a pair of assists.
Brookings’ Josh Boyko made 21 saves and allowed six goals in 35:51 of action. Nick Althaus stopped all eight shots he faced over the final 24:09.
The Blizzard (27-22-4-1) and Wings (27-23-3-2), who both have 59 points, face off again tonight at 7:05 at Larson Ice Center in Brookings.
