Easton Viitala scores in the third period of the Bruins’ win over Bismarck Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Jay Dickman had a goal and an assist, propelling him to the top of the Bruins all time points list as the NAHL Central-leading Bruins coasted past Bismarck, N.D. Friday night, 6-2, at Riverside Arena.

Dickman tied the record of a 118 points held by Brandon Whalin with the opening salvo of the game, scoring on the power play at the 13:24 mark with the Bruins holding a 5-on-3 advantage. The goal came with Dickman just right of Bismarck goalie Scott Albertoni.

Austin’s Jay Dickman smiles after the Bruins defeated Bismarck 6-2 Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

The 6-6 forward surpassed Whalin with a little less flare with an assist on Brian Bachnak’s open-netter late in the third at 17:46.

After the game, Dickman admitted he had an eye on the mark.

“I knew how close I was,” he said with a smile. “I had my parents keeping track and some others.”

Even though Dickman now owns the record with plenty of chances to add to it, he was quick to give credit to Whalin who was a teammate last year.

“He had a lot of my assists,” he said. “I just owe so much to him.”

Not that the game started easy for either team as penalties hung around all night for the squads. Combined, Austin and Bismarck had 48 minutes worth of penalties, but difference was Austin was able to kill all of the Bobcats power plays while Bismarck gave up three power play goals on the night.

“It goes game by game,” said Easton Viitala who had two goals on the night. “Early on they were calling a few penalties, but we can only worry about what we can control and that is being smart and not getting a lot of penalties late.”

The game zig-zagged through the first period and into the second. After Dickman’s first-period goal, the Bruins held the 1-0 lead until Bismarck’s Nate Repensky tied the game early in the second at the 3:40 mark.

But from there it was pretty much all Bruins. Eli May scored at 11:45 and Viitala scored the first of his two goals at 17:25.

Bismarck cut it to one in the third, but it was as close as they got the rest of the way as Viitala, Trey Dodd and Bachnak all scored in the final period.

“The second period we were moving our feet better,” Dickman said. “The first period we just weren’t moving, but then we started putting pucks in open space.”

The win puts Austin at a record of 38-18-1 with just three games remaining — games that become important each time out as the Aberdeen, S.D. Wings are just three games back at 35-18-4.

Aberdeen defeated the Minnesota Magicians 3-2 in overtime Friday to maintain striking distance with the Bruins in league standings.

“Coming into these games, it’s really important, with Aberdeen right behind us” Viitala said of getting these late-season wins. “Every point is crucial.”

Austin’s Drew Anderson deflects a shot on net towards Bismarck goalie Scott Albertoni during the second period Friday night at Riverside Arena. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Scoring summary

Bismarck    0 1 1 — 2

Austin          1 2 3 — 6

First period

(A) Jay Dickman PP (Guillaume Leclerc, Lucas Kohls), 13:24

Second Period

(B) Nate Repensky (Zach Yon, Tanner Salsberry), 3:40

(A) Eli May (Drew Anderson, Luke Dietsch ), 11:45

(A) Easton Viitala PP (Brian Bachnak, Trey Dodd), 17:25

Third Period

(B) Evan Giesler (Nathan Flynn), 2:08

(A) Viitala (Josh Bretner, Kohls), 4:30

(A) Dodd PP (Leclerc), 14:48

(A) Bachnak (Dickman), 17:46

Shots: Bismarck — 23, Austin — 34

Power plays: Bismarck 0-of-10, Austin 3-of-8