Since March 1, Aberdeen has been holding on to a slim hope of making the playoffs. With four games left in the season, Minot needs either a win, overtime loss or an Aberdeen loss to secure the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division of the NAHL.
Minot has 54 points, and Aberdeen 47. If the two teams tie, Minot wins the tie-breaker.
Aberdeen is on a six-game win streak, and has won 12 of its last 16 games since Feb. 1. Minot is on a five-game losing streak.
Aberdeen has defeated all the Central Division teams in recent weeks, including Minot. Road or home, the Wings are considered by many as the hottest team in the North American Hockey League right now.
In the last six games, the Wings have been putting up wild numbers:
4,007: Combined fans at the Wings' three home games at the 1,500-seat Odde Ice Center in Aberdeen.
128: Saves in 135 shots faced with four wins and an assist on a goal plus two awards (Junior Hockey and North American Hockey League player of the week) by Wings goalie Zach Nagelvoort. He is 7-0-1 as a Wing since being traded from Soo Center on Feb. 6.
79: Saves in 81 shots faced with two wins by Wings goalie Chad Catt.
69: Penalty minutes for the Wings on 33 infractions.
59: Penalty minutes for opponents on 28 infractions.
40: Percent of the time on power plays (when the other team is short a player because he is sitting in the penalty box), the Wings have scored (8 of 20 on power plays).
26: Power plays killed by the Wings in 28 attempts.
24: Wings goals, 9 for opponents.
18: Different Wings have scored.
- Peter Krieger (5g, 3a).
- Justin Parizek (1g, 5a).
- Jonathan Grebosky (2g, 3a).
- Jordan Heller (2g, 3a).
- Steven Johnson (1g, 4a).
- Tanner Holmquist (2g, 2a).
- Jake Horton (2g, 2a).
- Kyle Haak (1g, 2a).
- Erik Baskin (2g).
- Sam Coborn (2g).
- Tyler Cisar (1g, 1a).
- Zach Kraft (1g, 1a).
- Kyle Kruenegel (1g, 1a).
- Colton Kramer (1g).
- Dylan Dailey (1a).
- Niklas Mayrhauser (1a).
- Zach Nagelvoort (1a).
- Zach Doerring (1a).
12: Goals in the first period by the Wings, 4 for opponents.
5: Goals in the second period by the Wings, 1 for opponents.
5: Goals in the third period by the Wings, 4 for opponents.
2: Goals scored by the Wings (Kyle Haak and Jonathan Grebosky) when they were short-handed.
2: NAHL player of the week awards won by the Wings in the last two weeks - this week by forward Peter Krieger.
1: Goal in overtime by the Wings, 0 for opponents.
1: Shootout win by the Wings.
North American Hockey League
Central Division
GP W L OT Pts
x-Austin 56 40 10 6 86
x-Bismarck 56 31 16 9 71
x-Brookings 56 30 21 5 65
Minot 56 25 27 4 54
Aberdeen 56 20 29 7 47
Coulee Region 56 16 35 5 37
x-Qualified for playoffs
FRIDAY
Aberdeen vs. Coulee Region, 7:15 p.m., Odde Ice Center
Minot at Brookings, 7 p.m.
Bismarck at Austin, 7:05 p.m.
SATURDAY
Aberdeen vs. Coulee Region, 7:15 p.m., Odde Ice Center
Brookings at Minot, 7:35 p.m.
Bismarck at Austin, 7:05 p.m.
MARCH 29
Aberdeen at Brookings, 7 p.m.
Minot at Bismarck, 7:15 p.m.
Coulee Region at Austin, 7:05 p.m.
MARCH 30
Aberdeen vs. Brookings, 7:15 p.m., Odde Ice Center
Bismarck at Minot, 7:35 p.m.
Austin at Coulee Region, 7 p.m.
END OF REGULAR SEASON
John Papendick is the managing news-sports editor for the American News: jpapendick@ aberdeennews.com.
Twitter: @jpapendick