Ryan Ladika/MDN Brett Roloson (16) fights off a defender in the offensive zone during the first period. Roloson would later score the Minotauros' first goal of the night.

The Minot Minotauros rocketed out to a hot start against the first-place Aberdeen Wings Thursday night, but could not finish and eventually fell 7-2 after coughing up seven unanswered scores to drop below .500 during the month of April.

The Wings entered the contest riding a strong month of April, having won five of their seven total games. Their only two defeats in that stretch were a 3-2 loss to the Bismarck Bobcats April 17 and a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Minotauros the last time Aberdeen made its way to the Magic City April 6.

Keenan Rancier, who received the night off during Minot’s last win over the Wings, returned to the crease for the Minotauros Thursday night in search of his 20th win of the season. Overall, Minot had not enjoyed the same April success as Aberdeen, as the squad had prevailed in just four of its eight games entering the evening.

Following the opening puck drop, the Minotauros set the tone almost immediately. Just 26 seconds into the game, Brett Roloson received the puck as he was bearing down on Wings netminder Jake Sibell and flicked it past a perhaps unprepared goaltender.

Roloson’s fifth score of the season also served as yet another opening-minute goal for the Minotauros, an occurrence Minot has become increasingly familiar with over the last few weeks. Since the beginning of March, Minot has now potted a tally in the first minute of play four times. Roloson’s goal also extended his point streak to a modest three consecutive games, and Logan Anderson and Nikolai Charchenko were credited with assists on the play.

After killing off an Aberdeen power play that converts just over 34 percent of its opportunities on the road, the Minotauros struck pay dirt a second time in the opening 20 minutes. Max Bogdanovich, standing in the low slot just in front of Sibell, received a feed from behind the net and ripped the puck past Aberdeen’s stingy netminder for his second score of the season.

The goal was Bogdanovich’s second in his last six games and gave him three total points since April 9 after beginning the season pointless through his first 30 games. Cade Stibbe and Damon Zimmer registered their 18th and 10th assists on the play, respectively, to help double Minot’s lead with eight minutes and 47 seconds on the clock.

The Minotauros received their first chance on the man advantage with 36 seconds to play in the initial frame, but could not cash in on the abbreviated power play before the intermission. The club still entered the locker room leading 2-0 despite being outshot 11-8 in the frame.

The wheels came completely off for Minot in the middle frame, as the Minotauros’ defense did no favors for Rancier. Aberdeen recorded 27 shots on net in the second period alone and three Wings skaters, Michael Reed, Clayton Cosentino and Liam Fraser combined for four goals. By the time the Minotauros were mercifully let off the ice by the second intermission’s horn, their 2-0 advantage had quickly evaporated and Minot trailed 4-2 and was outshot 38-24 entering the game’s final 20 minutes.

Aberdeen added three more in the third period to put the game well out of reach, soaring to its 43rd win in 48 games. Minot, meanwhile, fell to 22-21-5-1 on the season after being outshot 53-26 on the evening.

The Minotauros will return to the ice in the penultimate game of the month April 29 in a road matchup with the St. Cloud Norsemen. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.