The Aberdeen Cougars put up seven goals Saturday night at the Odde Ice Center, but it wasn’t quite enough.

The Mitchell Marlins defeated the Cougars 8-7 in overtime to win the high-scoring boys’ hockey contest.

“Anytime you score seven goals, you feel like you got a pretty good chance,” said Cougars coach Jeremey Backous. “But giving up eight isn’t going to beat many.”

Part of the reason the Cougars surrendered eight goals was due to a few defensive struggles, as well as penalties, including one that led to the last goal of the game, which came on a power play.

“It just comes down to playing better in our defensive zone and just being more disciplined as a hockey team,” said Backous. “We gave up way too many penalties tonight, way too many power play goals. You’re not going to get the win when you’re killing penalties.”

The Marlins were aggressive offensively, putting up 43 shots on goal, led by Parker Denne, who scored four goals in the game. His third goal came with 44 seconds left in the third period to force overtime, and his fourth was the one that sealed the deal with 2:25 left in OT. Teammate Brody Huls finished with three goals.

“They have a couple kids that have a nose for the net and can finish really well,” Backous said. “Anytime they have the puck on their stick, they’re a threat to score.”

But so do the Cougars. Jaxon Danielson had a hat trick only 22 seconds into the second period. He gave credit to his forwards and also to his new sticks.

“Saw an opening. Got a great pass from my forwards. I literally couldn’t do it without them. They gave it to me, they opened a lane up for me, and I just hoped,” said Danielson. “I really don’t think I’ve ever shot that hard. This whole week has just felt different. I got new sticks. … I am not used to shooting this fast.”

Danielson’s first goal in the opening period with 6:27 remaining was assisted by Trayke Roehrich, who accounted for a career-high three assists and also had one goal in the game.

“Just had my head up when I got the puck, got a lucky pass. There’s nothing more to it,” said Roehrich of his goal.

After the first period, the score was tied at 3-3. Coming back onto the ice, it was all Cougars as they scored three goals within six minutes, kicking it off with a goal in the first 22 seconds of the second period.

But just as the second period was winding down, the Marlins got themselves back into the game scoring with 2:35 remaining, then again 32 seconds later. They tied the game up with 42 seconds left in the period on Huls’ third goal of the night.

“Finding a way to close out teams, especially a team like Mitchell, with kids that can finish,” Backous said, “you give them opportunities to stay in the game and they can hurt you. And that’s what happened tonight.”

With the score tied 6-6 going into the third period, and the Marlins coming off of three straight goals, the Cougars needed a spark. Roehrich provided it to give the Cougars the lead, scoring his goal after assisting on three others earlier. He said it doesn’t matter whether he scores or his teammates do.

“Just a puck in the net. There’s not much to it. I mean, a goal always feels good. You get to celebrate,” said Roehrich. “As long as the puck’s in the net, it doesn’t really matter. Whether it’s my teammates or not.”

Although Saturday night’s contest didn’t fall in their favor, the Cougars kept things in perspective.

“We got a point out of it. That’s the good part about it,” said Danielson. “But we would always like that second one.”

In the end, the Cougars, who won an OT game last week against Watertown, couldn’t quite secure a second overtime win against Mitchell.

“It only takes one goal to win a hockey game,” Backous said, “and we gave up eight.”

The Cougars, 3-2 on the season, will host Rushmore on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.

Mitchell Marlins 3 3 1 1 – 8

Aberdeen Cougars 3 3 1 0 – 7

First Period: 1, AC, Devon Fischbach (Cameron Backous), 13:46; 2, MM, Brody Huls (Lukas Jerke, Parker Denne), 10:07; 3, MM, Denne (unassisted), 7:57; 4, AC, Jaxon Danielson (Trayke Roehrich), 6:27; 5, AC, Danielson (Roehrich), 4:48; 6, MM, Denne (Huls), 1:18.

Second Period: 7, AC, Drake Witte (Danielson, Micah Kranzler), 16:38; 8, AC, Danielson (unassisted), 14:30; 9, AC, Max Podoll (Roehrich), 10:42; 10, MM, Coy Olson (Denne, Huls), 2:35; 11, MM, Huls (unassisted), 2:03; 12, MM, Huls (Esten Schlimgen), :42.

Third Period: 13, AC, Roehrich (Fischbach, Aiden Posthumus), 9:33; 14, MM, Denne (Schlimgen, Everett Morrison), :44.

Overtime: 15, MM, Denne (unassisted), 2:25.

Shots on Goal: Mitchell Marlins 43; Aberdeen Cougars 33.

Goalies: Mitchell Marlins, Ian Vaughan (26 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Carson Hunstad (35 saves).