A strong power play and a 3-goal lead was not enough for the Minnesota Wilderness Saturday, as it dropped its final game of the 2023 NAHL Showcase to the Aberdeen Wings.
The Wilderness built a 3-0 lead early into the 2nd period after cashing in on its first three man-advantage opportunities. Aberdeen then battled back with two goals in the 2nd and two more in the third to secure a 4-3 victory.
Adam Johnson registered two of Minnesota’s tallies. The veteran forward opened the scoring with a top shelf blast set up by Oliver Stümpel with 8:20 left in the first period. Johnson added his 2nd goal 4:54 into the second to make it 3-0, with assists from Logan Nagle and Brandt Dubey. In between Johnson’s markers, Aidan Shirey notched his second of the season with 2:41 left in the first, with Gustavs Ozolins assisting.
Minnesota finished three-for-five with the extra man.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen also used the power play to its advantage in its comeback effort. The Wings went 2-for-6 with the man-advantage, as Riley Sharun and Simon Pollock each deposited 2nd period goals while the Wilderness was short-handed.
The Wings (2-2-0) then completed the comeback in the third period when Logan Gravink scored at 6:54 into the frame and Grant Kohnen followed less than two minutes later to make it 4-3.
Sharun added an assist on Gravink’s tally for a 2-point night, while Isak Holmstrom assisted on both of Aberdeen’s 2nd period goals.
In goal, Loris Uberti made a season-high 31 saves on 35 shots in the loss, as Aberdeen outshot Minnesota 35-27. The Wings’ Gage Stewart earned the victory in net with 24 saves.
The loss means Minnesota finishes the 2023 showcase with a 1-2-1 record and will resume its Midwest Division schedule next weekend with a 1-3-1 mark.
The Wilderness next heads to Chippewa Falls, WI, where it will meet the Chippewa Steel on Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m.