BISMARCK, N.D. – Matthew Martin-Gaudreault scored just over three minutes into overtime to lift the Aberdeen Wings to a 4-3 win over Bismarck in the opening game of their NAHL playoff hockey series Friday night.
The Wings owned a 3-2 lead late in regulation before the Bobcats tied the contest with less than two minutes remaining. Bismarck outshot Aberdeen 21-6 in the third period.
The hosts fired the first two shots on goal in the extra session before Martin-Gaudreault found the back of the game for the game-winner on assists from Gustas Zemaitis and Nikolai Tishkevich.
Aberdeen never trailed in the contest.
Tishkevich opened the scoring midway through the first period on assists from Cooper Anderson, Martin-Gaudreault.
Bismarck tied the score in the second, before Bryce Johnson put the Wings in front again with an assist from Nick Comfort and Leonid Bulgakov.
After the Bobcats tied the score again, Sebastian Lillsund found the back of the net with about six minutes left in the second period to put the Wings on top once again, with assists from Bulgakov and Gavin Reed.
That set the stage for the late-game goal for the Bobcats and the eventual game-winner from Martin-Gaudreault.
Aberdeen goalie Damon Cunningham stopped 41 shots in goal for the Wings, who were outshot 44-29.
It was the first time Aberdeen had beaten Bismarck on its home ice in five tries this season. As a result, Aberdeen has swiped home-ice advantage from the Bobcats in the best of five series. Game two will take place in Bismarck tonight before the series shifts to the Odde Ice Center in Aberdeen next weekend.
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