If there’s one thing the Aberdeen Cougars have proven is that they know how to win playoff hockey games.

The Cougars, who have played in the last seven state championship games, winning six of them, edged the Oahe Capitals 2-1 to open this year’s state tournament Friday morning at the Odde Ice Center.

Aberdeen did not play its cleanest game of the year, committing a season-high 10 penalties, but used a pair of goals by Allie Woehl and some clutch goal-tending by Ellen Orr to secure the victory.

“We were pretty dysfunctional that whole second and third period. We really couldn’t get anything going. Of course we couldn’t stay out of the (penalty) box which contributed to that,” said Aberdeen coach Rob Weinmeister. “It was throwing a lot of things together just to survive, but we did. That’s one of those lessons too, that things don’t go your way, but somehow you have to figure it out and we figured it out.”

Allie Woehl put the Cougars on top with a first period goal. After Oahe tied it on a long shot in the second period, Woehl scored again in the third period in what proved to be the game-winner.

“That’s one thing we talked about was put some shots on net. She did that and fortunately they weren’t over the net,” Weinmeister said. “Good things happen when you do that.”

Woehl said when she scored her first goal, “it fueled my energy a little bit.”

The Cougars needed that energy as the Capitals ended up playing a good share of the contest on a power play because of the Aberdeen penalities.

That included a late-game barrage when Oahe had a two-person advantage after Aberdeen had another penality and the Capitals pulled their goalie.

That meant that Orr had her hands full in the closing minutes, but the eighth-grader was up to the challenge.

“I was just the whole time thinking I’ve got to let my reflexes take over,” Orr said. “I work on muscle memory in practice and it came there when I needed it.”

To complicate matters, Orr got a blood blister on her finger and had to be treated during a timeout.

“I was just hoping that they weren’t going to shoot it at my blocker and they didn’t,” Orr said. “They shot it right at my glove.”

Orr finished with 15 saves, including one on a Capitals breakaway.

During those moments, Orr tries to make herself as big as possible and cut down the angle on the approaching attacker.

“I just think come up as big as I can, cut them off, be aggressive, try not to let them see the back of the net,” Orr said. “All they can see is me.”

The strategy worked as Orr stopped one shot after another to preserve the victory.

“She had a good week of practice. She’s playing great for her young age.,” Weinmeister said. “She stepped up big there at the end for us.”

From the intensity to the physical play it was definitely playoff hockey.

Woehl said she could tell the difference between Friday’s contest and a regular-season game.

“You have a lot more energy, a lot more hype, and the parents yellings, the coaches yelling, the players yelling,” Woehl said. “It’s kind of stressful and nerve-wrecking.”

The Cougars will try to get back to another title contest when they face Mitchell in the semifinals at 4:30 this afternoon. The Marlins have handed Aberdeen two of its four losses this season.

“Now, it’s time for us to turn the page and let’s play our game of hockey that we can play,” Weinmeister said, “and not like what we saw here today.”

Brookings and Sioux Falls will meet in the other semifinal.

Oahe Capitals 0 1 0 – 1

Aberdeen Cougars 1 0 1 – 2

First Period: 1, AC, Allie Woehl (unassisted), 2:47.

Second Period: 2, OC, Kiersten Miller (Katie Reiss), 15:10.

Third Period: 3, AC, Woehl (Madalynn Sandvig), 11:51.

Shots on Goal: Oahe Capitals 16; Aberdeen Cougars 23.

Goalies: Oahe Capitals, Abigail Stewart From (21 saves); Aberdeen Cougars, Ellen Orr (15 saves).