Aberdeen answered back just 24 hours after a narrow shootout defeat Friday night.

Much like the evenining before, the Wings started slow — but this time they capitalized on their chances and closed out a win 4-2 over the North Iowa Bulls during NAHL hockey at the Odde Ice Center.

While Aberdeen started slow as far as producing goals, the Wings played much more aggressively in the opening period than they did the night before.

“We talked about it, we identified it,” said Wings coach Scott Langer. “We had to have a better first period, and I thought we did.”

The Bulls generated several power-play opportunities, but Aberdeen shut them down each time.

Langer highlighted the special teams effort, saying, “We still won the special team game, and I think when you win the special team game, you have an opportunity to win the game. And I thought our penalty kill was really good.”

The Wings trailed most of the game, and were down 2-1 heading into the third period.

Aberdeen’s Jibber Kuhl found the back of the net in odd fashion, firing a shot that was stopped before the Bulls’ goaltender accidentally pulled the puck behind him and over the goal line.

“It was kind of a lucky bounce,” said Kuhl. “I just put it on the net, and he ended up putting it in for me.”

Aberdeen gave up a goal in both the first and second periods before tightening up defensively the rest of the way.

“It’s just super unfortunate,” said Wings goalie Adam Dybal, speaking on giving up the first goal, “but the mindset is always to bounce back, get the next save and that’s what I did.”

He also shouted much praise to his front line.

“I didn’t really have to do much,” Dybal said. “The guys played really well in front of me. It makes my job a lot easier.”

Dybal finished with 26 saves on the night, not allowing a goal following the first five minutes of the second period.

Trailing heading the third period the Wings needed to come up big in the clutch.

 “I just thought this was a test,” Langer said, “being at home, being down, heading into the third, and our guys answered the bell.”

Speaking on the decisive third period, Kuhl said, “We knew what we had to do, we stuck to our structure, and just kind of took it to them in the third.”

Following a two-goal, one-assist performance on Friday, Matthew Martin set up Kuhl for a crucial goal, giving the Wings the lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the third.

“He made a really good play,” said Kuhl. “I knew he was going to go to the net with the puck, so I just got there as fast as possible and got one in.”

North Iowa kept pressing, firing nine shots in the third period.

Trying to mount a comeback, one of the Bulls’ forwards lingered with the puck just feet from Dybal before finally taking a shot.

“Just trying to track the release, track the puck, ended up hitting me, so I’m happy about that,” said Dybal.

The Wings are back at it next Friday and Saturday at Bismark against the Bobcats. The Wings own a point-lead over their North Dakota rival atop the Central Division standings.

“We got to have a better start,” Kuhl said, “just have a good week of practice and do what we do.”

To see a complete box score, click on the following link:

https://www.aberdeenwings.com/game-center/?game_id=2404058&season_id=11108