BROOKINGS – Aberdeen built a 3-0 lead en route to a 4-1 Central Division win over the Blizzard on Friday night at Larson Ice Center.
The first-place Wings scored single goals in the first and second periods, and then, lit the lamp early in the third before Luke Aquaro got Brookings on the scoreboard off a Sam Atenucci assist.
Aberdeen tacked on a late power-play tally for the final margin.
With 5:31 left in the first, John Sladic netted the puck off setups from Stepan Pokorny and Brad Belisle.
Tim Makowski made it 2-0 with 2:08 left in the second as Joe Strada earned the helper.
With 14:40 on the clock in the third, Thomas Rocco scored off assists from Strada and Jake Beaune; and then, Adam Pitters answered Aquaro’s goal with a power-play goal with 2:07 to play as Dalton Weigel and Nic Sicoly picked up the assists.
The Wings held a 28-24 edge in shots as they went 1-for-3 on power-play chances.
The Blizzard, 0-for-4 on the power play, dropped to 9-33-2-1 on the season as George McBey collected 24 saves in the loss.
Matt Vernon stopped 23 shots for the Wings to earn the win in goal.
The two teams are back at it tonight at LIC, with the puck dropping at 7:05.
