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Aberdeen Wings push Bismarck Bobcats to Game 5 in their playoff series
TL;DR
The Aberdeen Wings have forced a decisive Game 5 against the Bismarck Bobcats in their playoff series. This comes after a competitive matchup in the North American Hockey League.
Key points
- Aberdeen Wings force Game 5 against Bismarck Bobcats
- Playoff series in the North American Hockey League
- Best-of-five format
- Decisive matchup ahead
Edvins Berzins of the Watertown Shamrocks advances the puck against Matsvei Marshchanok of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Joe Rice of the Watertown Shamrocks, right, and Connor Beckwith of the Austin (MN) Bruins battle for the puck during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Gavin Hruza of the Austin (MN) Bruins loses the puck in front of teammate Siamion Marshchanok after being tripped to the ice during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series against the Watertown Shamrocks on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Kyle Greene of the Watertown Shamrocks is challenged by Nathan Williams of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Edvins Berzins of the Watertown Shamrocks, right, pressures EJ Paddington of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Justin Bartley of the Watertown Shamrocks controls the puck during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series against the Austin (MN) Bruins on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Joe Rice of the Watertown Shamrocks, right, tries to control the puck against Gus Elbert of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Owen Fask (front right) of the Watertown Shamrocks is congratulated by teammates after scoring the opening goal during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series against the Austin (MN) Bruins on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Michael Coleman of the Austin (MN) Bruins reaches for the puck after falling to the ice against Payton Struck of the Watertown Shamrocks during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Watertown Shamrocks goalie Mason Gudridge reaches to corral the puck during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series against the Austin (MN) Bruins on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Jordan Gudridge of the Watertown Shamrocks skates away from Connor Beckwith of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Aberdeen Wings push Bismarck Bobcats to Game 5 in their playoff series
Edvins Berzins of the Watertown Shamrocks advances the puck against Matsvei Marshchanok of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
1 / 11
Aberdeen Wings push Bismarck Bobcats to Game 5 in their playoff series
Edvins Berzins of the Watertown Shamrocks advances the puck against Matsvei Marshchanok of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Austin Bruins complete three-game playoff sweep over Watertown Shamrocks
Joe Rice of the Watertown Shamrocks, right, and Connor Beckwith of the Austin (MN) Bruins battle for the puck during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Austin Bruins complete three-game playoff sweep over Watertown Shamrocks
Gavin Hruza of the Austin (MN) Bruins loses the puck in front of teammate Siamion Marshchanok after being tripped to the ice during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series against the Watertown Shamrocks on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Austin Bruins complete three-game playoff sweep over Watertown Shamrocks
Kyle Greene of the Watertown Shamrocks is challenged by Nathan Williams of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Austin Bruins complete three-game playoff sweep over Watertown Shamrocks
Edvins Berzins of the Watertown Shamrocks, right, pressures EJ Paddington of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Aberdeen Wings push Bismarck Bobcats to Game 5 in their playoff series
Justin Bartley of the Watertown Shamrocks controls the puck during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series against the Austin (MN) Bruins on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Austin Bruins complete three-game playoff sweep over Watertown Shamrocks
Joe Rice of the Watertown Shamrocks, right, tries to control the puck against Gus Elbert of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Aberdeen Wings push Bismarck Bobcats to Game 5 in their playoff series
Owen Fask (front right) of the Watertown Shamrocks is congratulated by teammates after scoring the opening goal during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series against the Austin (MN) Bruins on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Austin Bruins complete three-game playoff sweep over Watertown Shamrocks
Michael Coleman of the Austin (MN) Bruins reaches for the puck after falling to the ice against Payton Struck of the Watertown Shamrocks during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Austin Bruins complete three-game playoff sweep over Watertown Shamrocks
Watertown Shamrocks goalie Mason Gudridge reaches to corral the puck during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series against the Austin (MN) Bruins on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
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Austin Bruins complete three-game playoff sweep over Watertown Shamrocks
Jordan Gudridge of the Watertown Shamrocks skates away from Connor Beckwith of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
WATERTOWN — The Watertown Shamrocks didn't go down without a fight.
The Shamrocks' first-ever North American Hockey League Central Division semifinal playoff appearance ended on Saturday, April 24, 2026, with a 4-3 overtime loss the Austin (MN) Bruins in the Prairie Lakes Ice Arena.
The top-seeded Bruins finished off the best-of-five series in three games, the final two of which ended in 4-3 overtime decisions.
The Shamrocks, in only their second year of existence, compiled a 31-23-3-2 (wins, losses, overtime losses and shootout losses) regular-season record in 2025-26. They went 19-33-2-5 in their initial season in 2024-25.
The Bruins advance to meet either the No. 2 Bismarck (ND) Bobcats or No. 3 Aberdeen Wings in the NAHL Central Division championship playoff series.
Edvins Berzins of the Watertown Shamrocks advances the puck against Matsvei Marshchanok of the Austin (MN) Bruins during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Game 3 recap for Watertown-Austin
After dropping the first two games of the series on April 17 and 18 in Austin, the Shamrocks returned to Watertown to play their first ever home playoff game in franchise history.
It started when Owen Fask converted on a power-play for a 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. Nathan Williams added a power-play goal for Austin with only 11 seconds left in the opening period and the two teams battled from there.
After Michael Coleman scored for Austin, Henry Miller and Payton Struck each found the net in the second period to give Watertown a 3-2 advantage with 11:58 left in the period. Matsvei Marshchanok evened the score for Austin with 1:34 left in the period and it stayed 3-3 for the rest of regulation.
EJ Paddington's power-play goal with 11:45 showing in overtime ended the game.
Payton Struck, Justin Bartley, Jake Pietila, Daniel Halonjen, Brody Josselyn and Kyle Greene each tallied assists for Watertown.
The Shamrocks were outshot 51-27 but stayed close behind 47 saves from goalie Mason Gudridge. Jack Solomon had 24 saves for Austin.
Justin Bartley of the Watertown Shamrocks controls the puck during Game 3 of their North American Hockey League Central Division Semifinal Playoff series against the Austin (MN) Bruins on Friday, April 24, 2026, in the Prairie Lakes Ice Center. Austin won won 4-3 in overtime to complete a three-game sweep of the best-of-five series.
Aberdeen-Bismarck series
Austin didn't get to find out its opponent in the Central Division playoff semifinals because Aberdeen and Bismarck split two games played in Aberdeen on April 24 and 25 to force a deciding Game 5 on Monday, April 27, in Bismarck.
Bismarck won Game 3 4-2 on April 24 by getting first-period goals from Ben Rakowski, Nick Snyder and Mark Evans and another goal early in the second period from Eddie Revening for a 4-0 lead.
Briggs Orr and David Hruby tallied goals for the host Wings. Theodore Richards and Cooper Anderson were credited with assists. Adam Dybal started and tallied nine saves before being relieved by Willum Braun (16 saves) in net.
NAHL PLAYOFFS: Watertown, Aberdeen teams set to continue NAHL playoff series with home games
The Wings got even in Game 4 on April 25, winning 7-3 after jumping out to a 5-0 lead with an early goal from Easton Edwards in the first period and getting second-period goals from Jibber Kuhl, Own Pitters, Edwards and Matthew Martin. Anderson and Kuhl added goals in the final period.
Martin produced four assists and Brody Dustin, Orr and Edwards two apiece. Jonathan Doucette, Anthony Ciaramitaro, Anderson and Hruby all had one.
Braun handed the goal-tending duties and recorded 35 saves.
Hugo Kruse, Theodore Richardson and Snyder each scored for Bismarck, which got 35 saves from Francisco.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: NAHL playoff update for Watertown, Aberdeen teams
Q&A
What was the outcome of the Aberdeen Wings vs Bismarck Bobcats playoff series?
The Aberdeen Wings pushed the series to a Game 5 against the Bismarck Bobcats.
When is Game 5 of the Aberdeen Wings and Bismarck Bobcats playoff series scheduled?
The exact date and time for Game 5 have not been specified in the provided information.
What is the format of the playoff series between the Aberdeen Wings and Bismarck Bobcats?
The playoff series is a best-of-five format.
How did the Aberdeen Wings perform in the earlier games of the series?
The Aberdeen Wings managed to win enough games to extend the series to a Game 5.
