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Aberdeen forward Jibber Kuhl celebrates with his teammates following the Wings’ 6-2 victory over Bismarck in Game 5 of the Robertson Cup Central Division Semifinals on Monday, April 27 at the VFW Sports Center in Bismarck, N.D. The Wings now advance to play Austin in the division finals. Courtesy photo.
Turns out, the third time is the charm.
Aberdeen exorcised some demons in skating to a 6-2 victory to claim the fifth and decisive game in the North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinals against Bismarck on Monday, April 27 at the VFW Sports Center in Bismarck, N.D.
With the triumph, the Wings advance to the Central Division Finals against Austin, while the rival Bobcats close their season and won’t repeat as Robertson Cup champions.
In each of the past two years, Bismarck eliminated Aberdeen in Game 5 of the division semifinals.
Not this time.
Langer
The Wings scored three third-period goals, and Willum Braun was outstanding on the other side of the ice, stopping 35 of the 37 shots he faced to log the win.
“Yeah, you could say vindication after tonight,” Aberdeen head coach Scott Langer said. “The past two years were really tough having our season end in this building. Our guys had to figure out a way to beat the defending Robertson Cup champs in their building. Looks like there’s gonna be a new champ this season.”
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And Aberdeen fans don’t mind that as the rivalry falls short of being good-natured.
Forward Jibber Kuhl played on the previous two Wings teams that lost to Bismarck in the playoffs.
“I’d been in that position the last two seasons, so I know how it feels to have your season come to an end,” he said. “I mean, it feels awesome advancing out of a really tough series, but, again, you know how those guys feel. It was alive in that building when they scored, but once we took control it cleared out pretty quick.”
The Bobcats wouldn’t go away until well into the third period, but the Wings never trailed.
Aberdeen scored just 2:54 into the game off the stick of Matthew Martin to seize some early momentum.
“That was huge to get an early scoring chance like that,” Langer said. “We kind of lost a little after that because the next 10 minutes were not our best hockey. We had a little bit of bus legs, but got through it.”
Indeed, the Wings were outshot 17-5 in the first 20 minutes, and the disparity was larger until they put a few shots on goal late in the period.
Braun’s performance key in Game 5 victory
Braun
Braun is a big reason Aberdeen survived the early onslaught as he yielded only a power play goal to Cade Bell with 14:11 in the first.
“We knew Bismarck’s plan was gonna be to throw the puck towards net and crash whenever they had the chance,” Braun said. “I thought what helped me was our defense tonight. They did a great job of keeping (Bismarck players) outside and forced more shots from the point. When they were able to get some inside, I was able to cover a lot of pucks.”
He started the playoff series as Aberdeen’s backup goalie.
Caden Lee scored at 5:26 of the second period to put the Wings up 2-1, but the Bobcats tied it when Alex Lunski picked up a power play goal.
That was it for Bismarck, though. Braun closed the door for the final 27:25 of the game, including making some brilliant saves in the third. He didn’t allow an even-strength goal on the night.
“Their power play clicked a little, but five on five we were the better team,” Braun said.
Langer agreed.
“There’s no question five on five we dominated them the whole series. And we were for sure the most determined team. We went north when we needed to, we got our forecheck going in the second and third periods. Just a great effort by our guys,” he said.
One of Braun’s saves served as a pivotal moment in the game.
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Kuhl scored with 49 seconds left in the second period to put Aberdeen up 3-2, but just after the third began, Braun denied a close-range shot after Bismarck’s Eddie Revenig stole the puck for a clean look.
“It was really a two on none because they had another guy who got into our zone,” Braun said. “As (Revenig) is coming in, I just thought, ‘Well, looks like I need to flash some leather,’ but he didn’t go glove side, he tried to go near post, and I just raised my shoulder and turned it away.”
Langer credited his netminder for being in the right frame of mind.
“Hockey is a game of inches, right, and Braunie didn’t give up many inches tonight, especially on that save,” Langer said. “We scored timely goals and he made big saves for us. Goaltenders can win playoff games, and he delivered one tonight.”
Kuhl’s power play goal starts four-goal onslaught
Kuhl’s one-timer from the dot on a four-on-three power play proved to be the game-winner. It was also the first of four consecutive Aberdeen goals that sealed the game and series.
“That was the same kind of goal I scored Saturday night, just a great pass and I was lucky enough to capitalize. There was another sigh of relief, and I was a little tired, so I didn’t hit the celly (celebration) that hard. It just feels good to contribute when you have a chance,” he said.
Owen Pitters doubled the lead with 11:00 left in the game on a redirect through the legs of Bobcat goalie Bryce Francisco to make it 4-2.
Brody Dustin iced the game with two late empty-netters to account for the final score.
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“Pitters’ goal going to the net was huge for us, no question and Dustin — just another example of how our guys never got rattled and kept pushing the issue,” Langer said.
After losing Game 3 4-2 on Friday, April 24 at the Odde Ice Center, Aberdeen had to win two straight to keep its season alive.
The Wings got down 4-0 Friday and couldn’t recover.
But Saturday, April 25 in Game 4, it was the Wings who started hot. They scored five straight goals in the first 31 minutes of the game to pick up a 7-3 victory. Kuhl and Easton Edwards finished with two goals apiece for Aberdeen.
That set up Monday’s win-or-go home contest.
Aberdeen goalie Willum Braun reaches out to gather the puck during the first period of Game 4 of the Robertson Cup Central Division Semifinals against Bismarck on Saturday, April 25 at the Odde Ice Center. Braun had 35 saves in a 7-3 Wings’ victory. Aberdeen Insider photo by Robb Garofalo.
Wings face Austin in Central Division Finals
Aberdeen now travels to Austin, Minn., for the first two games of the division finals against the Bruins, who won the regular season crown.
“We have our work cut out for us, but (Austin is) up next, that’s how we’re looking at it,” Braun said. “I’d rather go through the top seeds because there’s no room for any questions that we didn’t earn it.”
Kuhl added the bus ride home from Bismarck was a bit of a celebration. But once the team got back, the mindset had to change.
“Our bench was going bonkers towards the end of the game when we kept putting (goals) up, but it’s over and now it’s on to the next series. That’s how we roll, and we have to focus on getting ready for Austin,” he said.
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Aberdeen was 3-5 against the Bruins in the regular season. Austin swept Watertown in the Central Division Semifinals, but all three games were one-goal affairs and two went into overtime.
Austin’s Jack Solomon is one of the best goalies in the NAHL with a save percentage of 93.4 and a scant goals-against average of just 1.85. The Bruins were one of the top-scoring teams in the league during the regular season and have two 80-point players in Siamion Marshchanok and his twin brother Matsvei Marshchanok. Both have committed to play NCAA Division I college hockey at Augustana University in Sioux Falls.
The series schedule follows.
- Game 1: Aberdeen at Austin, Friday, May 1, 7:05 p.m.
- Game 2: Aberdeen at Austin, Saturday, May 2, 7:05 p.m.
- Game 3: Austin at Aberdeen, Friday, May 8, 7:15 p.m.
- Game 4, Austin at Aberdeen, Saturday, May 9, 7:15 p.m. (if necessary)
- Game 5: Aberdeen at Austin, Monday, May 11, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
