The Aberdeen Wings had little time to celebrate their NAHL Central Division playoff series win over Bismarck and now it’s on to the next challenge.

The Wings clinched their series win on Monday and start their next best-of-five series at Austin on Friday night.

“Not much time, but that’s just kind of how it works,” said Wings coach Scott Langer. “In our division and in our league you stretch out a series so if you are successful, you’re pretty much back right into the next series.”

While the quick turnaround might present a challenge, the Wings have played well on the road this year, including winning two out of three games in Bismarck the last series.

“It’s never easy to play in anybody else’s building, but our guys have done a great job with it, and it can’t matter where you’re playing the game,” Langer said. “You just have to go in there and try to get the result.”

The Bruins, who won the division this year, have the home-ice advantage, but Langer doesn’t mind opening a series with two games on the road before heading home.

“I don’t see it as a disadvantage. We get to spend some time together. We have some structure to what we do on the road,” he said. “In these type of series, I almost think at some point, that it might a little better with how good teams are and how comparable they are, that you do get a chance to start on the road, and if you can just get one of those games, coming back here puts you in a really good spot.”

Austin won both of its home games in a sweep over Watertown in its first round series and does present a major challenge.

“Austin on paper is really tough. They’re a big, heavy hockey team. They have some heavy guys there. Their goaltender has been stellar all year,” Langer said. “They’re coming off a series against Watertown where their power play was above 40 percent. They’re a team that has quite a few guys in the upper echelon of scoring in the league, so you’re going to have to play really well. You can’t have penalties. You have to be disciplined.”

That said, the Wings have won three of their last four meetings against the Bruins.

“We beat them during the regular season. We had success against them,” Langer said. “I think it’s going to be two good teams going back and forth.”

Aberdeen just finished a tough series against Bismarck that went all five games. Langer said this series against the Bruins has the potential to go all five as well.

“They’re a team that plays really well. They have a lot of competitive guys over there,” Langer said. “Coach (Steve) Howard does a really good job, so I think there’s a possibility it can go the distance, that’s for sure.”

The Wings have shown an ability to dig out of early holes this season and had their backs against the wall against Bismarck before pulling out two elimination games to win the series.

“The resilient part is pretty big. When we do get down, we’re really still not out of a hockey game, which I really like about this club,” Langer said. “Some years you inherit teams where as soon as that first goal goes in against you, it’s kind of bad body language and it’s uphill battles. This group so far this year, has found ways to continue to fight. I like that part of their game.”

The Wings will be taking on a well-rested team since the Bruins swept their first-round foe.

“We’re just going to have to play smart, because they’re well-rested. They played three games. They’ve been sitting since last Saturday. We’re a team that’s been playing,” Langer said. “We just have to make sure we play smart road hockey against them and try to get what we can when we can get it, and play really well defensively.”

It promises to be a hard-fought series between two teams looking to impose their will on each other.

“To me, it’s just going to be two heavyweight teams that want to win so bad that they’re willing to go through a brick wall,” Langer said. “The team that ends up going through that wall is the team that’s going to come out in the end, and end up in the Robertson Cup.”

Langer said his veteran players are doing a good job of leading the team and he was pleased with the way his younger players handled their first playoff experience against Bismarck. As a result, the Wings are now in the conference finals.

“To me we’ve got a great opportunity ahead of us,” Langer said, “and let’s try to utilize that opportunity to have some fun with it.”

Aberdeen is now just one step away from heading to the final four of the Robertson Cup.

“If you can find a way to somehow scratch out three out of five games, then you’re going to be at the big dance,” Langer said, “and that’s the place of the ultimate goal.”