A change in system and a change in mentality has led to change in fortunes for the Aberdeen Wings.

After struggling against Bismarck all season, the Wings now have the Bobcats on the verge of elimination following a 3-2 victory Friday night at the Odde Ice Center. Aberdeen leads the North American Hockey League playoff series 2-1 with a chance to close it out tonight.

“The guys are playing good hockey right now. They’re capitalizing when they need to capitalize,” said Wings coach Scott Langer. “Obviously a tough one we gave up there with the power play. I’d like to have that one back, but our guys are playing as a team and we’re getting different things from different people. It was great to be home tonight in front of our crowd. That obviously got us going.”

Aberdeen has now recorded back-to-back wins over a team that dominated them in the previous three games. So what’s been the difference?

“I think it’s a mentality thing. I think when playoffs come around mentality changes a little bit. We changed a few things. I think it gave the guys a little confidence in our structure,” Langer said. “Tonight, I thought structurally we were pretty damn good. That’s what it takes to beat a team of that caliber. We’ll enjoy this one for a little bit, but it’s back to work (Saturday).”

The contest was tied at 2-2 before Simon Pollock deflected a blast from teammate Zach Reim into the net with 9:16 remaining in the third period for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

“We had a set face-off play,” Pollock said. “Jibber (Kuhl) comes around the net and made his way up to Zach Reim, and he made a great move to the left. I saw an open lane, and I tipped it and it went in. I’m very grateful for it.”

Pollock also had assists on the other two goals for the Wings, the first by Wes Turner and the second by Kuhl.

Turner got the Wings on the board midway through the second period on a power play to knot the score at one goal apiece. He received a pass out front, lined up a shot and did not miss it.

“We were on the power play,” Turner said. “All the guys down low worked really hard to keep the puck in, and then the puck came out front and I shot it and scored, top right. It was a great look.”

Kuhl put Aberdeen on top later in the second period, before the Bobcats eventually tied the game to start the third period.

Bismarck peppered the Aberdeen goal throughout the period, racking up 18 shots on goal in 20 minutes, but could never put another puck in net the rest of the way. Wings goalie Adam Dybal finished with 34 saves in the contest as Aberdeen has found a way to contain one of the highest scoring teams in the league.

“It all starts with us buying in with our new system, and of course Adam Dybal being absolutely brilliant every game we play,” Pollock said. “Huge shout out to him, huge shout out to the boys for buying in, and just keep the ball rolling here.”

The Wings have found a new level in the postseason and the players said it’s just as much mental as it is physical.

“I think just mindset, just knowing that it’s the playoffs,” Turner said. “It’s a different animal than the regular season. It’s just all about who wants it more this time of the year.”

Now, Aberdeen has a chance to eliminate its rival with a victory tonight when game four takes place at 7:15 at the Odde Ice Center. Turner said it will take more mental toughness to finish off the Bobcats.

“Just wanting it more than them,” Turner said. “The elimination game is always the hardest one to win, so just have to go in with that mindset that we just have to outwork them and put them away.”

The Wings split the first two games in Bismarck to obtain home-ice advantage and will try to put that use one more time to close out the series this evening.

“We have our home ice. It’s in our hands. We have to just worry about playing a good first period of hockey. That’s it,” Langer said. “We have to show up on time and we have to play a good first period, and that will allow us to dictate the rest of the game.”

To see a complete box score, click on the following link:

https://www.aberdeenwings.com/game-center/?game_id=42327