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.Game 3 recap for Watertown-AustinAfter 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.Aberdeen-Bismarck seriesAustin 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 gamesThe 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_Sportsor email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.comThis article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: NAHL playoff update for Watertown, Aberdeen teams