The Aberdeen Wings would take home ice advantage splitting its two games of the first round series of the NAHL Playoffs falling Friday 5-1, but winning Saturday 3-2 in overtime against Bismarck.
The Bobcats, the two seed in the central division would host games one and two this weekend and roll past the Wings in the first game of the series taking a 2-0 lead before Zach Reim would score the lone Wings goal early in the second period. Bismarck would score two late goals in the third, only 20 seconds apart to win 5-1. Adam Dybal stopped 37 shots on 41 chances as Aberdeen was outshot 42-30.
In game two, Aberdeen would score late in the second period as Leonard Bulgakov would score with 9.6 seconds remaining sending the game tied at 1-1 into the third. Aberdeen would take a 2-1 lead behind Drew Mackle’s goal in the first minute of the third period. Bismarck would tie it with four minutes remaining in regulation sending the game to overtime with either Bismarck taking a 2-0 lead and putting the Wings on the brink of elimination or the series being tied heading to Aberdeen. It would take just 45 seconds for Bulgakov to get his second goal of the game and win game two of the series as Aberdeen ties the best-of-five series 1-1 with a 3-2 win. Dybal made 29 saves on 31 shots as Bismarck outshot Aberdeen 31-22.
The series will shift to Aberdeen on Friday and Saturday this coming weekend. A decisive game five would be played on Monday next week if necessary in Bismarck. Puck drop is at 7:05 both Friday and Saturday in Aberdeen.
