The Aberdeen Cougars were down to their last breath before pulling out a dramatic overtime win over the Sioux Falls Flyers 2 Sunday afternoon at the Odde Ice Center.

Micah Kranzler scored the game-tying goal with one second left in regulation and then netted the game-winner in OT to give the Cougars a 4-3 boys’ hockey victory.

Aberdeen was trailing by one late in regulation when Cougars coach Jeremey Backous decided to pull his team’s goalie, Samuel Casper, in an attempt to try to level the score.

“We pulled Sammy with about a minute left in the third for a sixth attacker,” Backous said. “Thankfully it worked out.”

Kranzler said with the clock winding down, there wasn’t any time to waste.

“I was just shooting it on net, hoping it would go in,” Kranzler said. “I wasn’t really aiming for a specific for spot. I was just on net, hoping it would go in.”

Once it did, it provided a spark for Kranzler and his Cougars teammates.

“I was pumped,” Kranzler said. “I was like ‘Let’s go!’ Let’s take this into overtime. I’m feeling good right now.”

Kranzler wasn’t done with his late-game heroics as he produced the game-winning goal with 2:12 left in overtime on an assist from Jadon Jones.

“I was in front of the net and the shot went wide and it came right to me on the back door and I was trying to get the puck in front of the net as fast as I could, because I knew that the goalie was on the other side,” Kranzler said. “Once he made that first initial save and the rebound came right back to me, I was like he’s lying down, I have to get this up top and so I did, and it just went in.”

When asked which felt better the last-second game-tying goal or the game-winning goal, Kranzler responded, “They were both pretty exciting, but I’d have to go with the game-winner. There’s something about ending the game. It’s special.”

The Cougars had a 1-0 lead after two periods after Jacob Scheel scored on an assist from Quincy Madsen.

Sioux Falls surged ahead with a pair of goals to start the third, before Aberdeen tied the score on a goal from Lleyton Kleffman with assists from Devon Fischbach and Madsen. The Flyers then went ahead with 2:18 remaining setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

“We missed some great chances early in the game and allowed them to hang around,” Backous said. “I’m proud of the team for not quitting after we lost the lead and trailed twice in the third. We have to find ways to put teams away when we have the chance.”

Backous pointed out the play of Casper in goal as he made 30 saves in the contest.

“He made some crucial saves late in the game and OT to give us the chance to win,” Backous said.

Kranzler agreed that Casper played a huge role in the victory.

“We really couldn’t have won that game without Sam being spectacular in net,” Kranzler said, “and especially the team not giving up after they went on that three-goal run there.”

The Cougars, 2-3-1 on the season, have had two games go to overtime on the young season. The first time resulted in a tie with Mitchell. Aberdeen has now won two of its last three games.

Sunday’s win helps to ease some of the frustration from a loss to the other Sioux Falls Flyers team on Saturday.

“Coming back out today and winning in that OT, that was pretty refreshing,” Kranzler said of the overtime victory. “Hopefully, that’s a sign of good things to come for us.”

Aberdeen has break before playing at Watertown on Dec. 16, and at Sioux Center on Dec. 17 and 18.

Sioux Falls Flyers 0 0 3 0 – 3

Aberdeen Cougars 0 1 2 1 – 4

First Period: No scoring.

Second Period: 1, AC, Jacob Scheel (Quincy Madsen), 8:24.

Third Period: 2, AC, SFF, Drayton Decourcey (Alexander Heibult, Ashton Eining), 14:35; 3, SFF, Mason Haack (Nick Gergen), 9:29; 4, AC, Lleyton Kleffman (Devon Fischbach, Madsen), 4:16; 5, SFF, Haack (Gergen), 2:18; 6, AC, Micah Kranzler, :01.

Overtime: 7, AC, Kranzler (Jadon Jones), 2:12.

Shots on Goal: Sioux Falls Flyers 34; Aberdeen Cougars 47.

Goalies: Sioux Falls Flyers, Trey Salonen (43 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Samuel Casper (31 saves).