The first period would start when Owen Pitters would score at the 3:54 mark in the first period getting the Wings on the board early, getting assists from Cade Moxham and Luke Backel. Shortly after, Augustana commit Leonid Bulgakov would get his 10th goal of the season and extend the Wings lead – assists coming from DJ MacLeish and Gavin Reed. At the 13:37 mark, Mitch Vanderway would get the Mallards on the board, but just over a minute later, the Mallards would draw a penalty and go to the penalty box. With the Wings on the power play, it would be Owen Pitters who would again find the back of the net getting his second goal of the night – getting assists from Luke Backel and Leonid Bulgakov. Then, with just twenty second left in the period, American International commit Sebastian Lillsund for the Wings would score, getting assists from Nick Comfort and Leonid Bulgakov. The period would end with a score of 4-1 in favor of the Wings.
In the second period, it would be the Mallards who would score first. At the 4:35 mark, Hunter Hayes would get on the board first, and just eleven seconds later it would be Owen Durigan. But, Cade Moxham at the 7:04 mark would get his second goal of the regular season getting assists from Cooper Anderson and Luke Backel. Then, Wings newcomer Jack McDonough would get his first NAHL goal with assists from Luke Backel and Owen Pitters. The second period would end still in favor of the Wings, but the score being 6-3.
The third period would start quick just forty-seven seconds in when Luke Backel would add to his multi-point night. He would score his sixth goal of the season getting assists from Grant Winkler and Owen Pitters. Then, before the period would be over, Ryan Flaherty would add to the Wings score at the 15:03 mark getting assists from Cade Moxham and Grant Winkler. With no additional scoring from the Mallards, the score would end 8-3 securing a Wings win!
Damon Cunningham was in net stopping 23 of 26 shots on goal.
Three stars for Friday’s match-up were Leonid Bulgakov (1 goal, 2 assists), Owen Pitters (2 goals, 2 assists) and Luke Backel (1 goal, 4 assists).
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ABERDEEN, SD (AberdeenWings.com) – [SAT] The Aberdeen Wings hosted the Minnesota Mallards again on Saturday night at the Odde Ice Center and went into overtime for the first time this season. With no scoring happening in overtime, the game went into a shootout where both Leonid Bulgakov and Owen Pitters would score, securing the victory for the Wings!
The Mallards would be the first ones to get on the board at the 10:17 mark in the first period, it would be Trey Fredenberg who would score. Just two minutes later, Luke Backel for the Wings would even the score, getting assists from Owen Pitters and Cade Moxham. Then, before the period would be over, Hunter Hayes would get the lead back for the Mallards and the period would end with a score of 2-1 with the Mallards in the lead.
To start the second period, the Wings would come out on a five-minute power play after the Mallards took a major penalty. But, the Wings were unable to capitalize. At the 8:07 mark however, Sebastian Lillsund would score for the Wings, getting assistance from Leonid Bulgakov and Brady Estabrook. This would be the only goal of the second period, and would tie the game heading into the third period.
After a scoreless third period, the game went into overtime, but the overtime period would go scoreless as well.
Then, the game went into a shootout.
The first skater up would be for the Mallards, #12 Hunter Hayes, but he would be denied by Wings Goaltender Willum Braun.
Next, for the Wings would be #27 Leonid Bulgakov who scored.
Then, for the Mallards #19 Erik Muller who would again be denied by Willum Braun.
And finally for the Wings, number #24 Owen Pitters scores the shootout winner.
Willum Braun was in net for the Wings stopping 27 of 29 shots on goal.
Three stars of the game were Leonid Bulgakov (1 assist, shootout goal), Owen Pitters (1 assist, shootout goal), and Sebastian Lillsund (1 goal).
Next, the Aberdeen Wings look to take on the Austin Bruins in the Odde Ice Center November 8th and 9th for the Annual Children’s Miracle Network Specialty Jersey Auction! More details to come.
Advanced tickets can be purchased at tickets.aberdeenwings.com and can be found at all C-Express locations.