BROOKINGS – The Ranger moved into a tie in the SDAHA standings with a win and a tie of league-leading Rushmore at Larson Ice Center.
Brookings downed the Thunder, 6-3, on Saturday but could only manage a 2-2 tie with Rushmore on Sunday.
The Rangers now have 23 points, courtesy of an 11-0-1-0 record, while Rushmore dropped to 11-1-1-0 (23 points). Brookings plays host to Sioux Center on Friday in an 8:30 p.m. game at LIC.
SUNDAY’S GAME
• Brookings 2, Rushmore 2, OT
The Thunder cashed in on a power-play opportunity just past two minutes into the game as Tanner Good lit the lamp off assists from Ryan Nolan and Brian Petereit.
Five minutes later, Brookings tied the game on Austin Lesnar’s goal with Colton Kruse picking up the assist to send the game into the first intermission tied at 1-1.
The Rangers led 2-1 after two periods when Cody Niklason found the back of the net off a setup from Jordan Vlaminck.
Rushmore sent the game into overtime as Ryan Nolan scored a power-play goal less than four minutes into the third with the assist going to Gavin Gary.
The Thunder held a 24-20 edge in shots and converted two of four power-play chances as Dylan Geraets finished with 22 saves for the Rangers and Alex Robin stopped 18 shots for Rushmore. Brookings finished 0-for-6 in power-play opportunities.
SATURDAY’S GAME
• Brookings 6, Rushmore 3
Kruse scored the only goal of the first period as Vlaminck and Akren Prodehl earned assists.
Matt Chapin made it a two-goal game with 14:25 to play in the second as Trevor Kuechenmeister and Prodoehl picked up the assists, but Jacob Lindblom tallied an unassisted goal less than two minutes later to make it 2-1.
Brookings put up two goals just 20 seconds apart to push its lead to 4-1 as Niklason netted a power-play goal off an assist from Kuechenmeister and then, Vlaminck tallied an unassisted goal with 5:03 left in the period.
The Thunder closed back within a goal after Gary notched a power-play goal before Petereit scored with a minute to go. Lucas Ferdinand set up Gary while Lindbolm assisted Petereit.
The Rangers tacked on a pair of power-play goals in the third period – the first by Niklason, set up Kullan Daikawa; and the second by Hunter Neuman, assisted by Chapin – for the final margin.
Brookings outshot the Thunder, 22-12, as Geraets came up with nine saves. John Young had 16 saves for Rushmore as the Rangers went 3-of-5 on power-play chances while the Thunders were 1-for-4.
