ABERDEEN, S.D. — Taking two games on the road was too much to ask for the Minot Minotauros.

The top-seeded Aberdeen Wings evened up the Central Division finals series with a 3-1 victory over the No. 2-seeded Minotauros Saturday night at the Odde Ice Center in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

It marks Minot’s first loss this postseason after the Minotauros had swept the Bismarck Bobcats in the first round and took Game 1 in Aberdeen on Friday, 4-3 in overtime.

On Saturday, The Wings scored two goals in the first period, coming from Nic Sicoly and Jonathan Bendorf (power play), to put the pressure on Minot right away. John Sladic made it 3-0 with his fourth goal of the postseason 15:40 into the second period.

Wilmer Skoog gave the Minotauros a little bit of life with an unassisted goal in the final minute of the scond period. Skoog, after not scoring in the first round of the NAHL playoffs, now has goals in back-to-back games against the Wings.

Aberdeen goaltender Matt Vernon made 34 saves to earn the victory, while Minot goalie Nicholas Grabko went 30-for-33 on save attempts.

The best-of-five game series now heads to Minot next weekend with Game 3 on Friday (May 3) and Game 4 on Saturday (May 4). Puck drop at Maysa Arena for both games is set for 7:35 p.m.

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