DETROIT LAKES - For the last several games, the Detroit Lakes girls' hockey team has been looking for an offensive spark to get them over the midseason hump.
Thursday night, they may have just found it.
The Lakers dominated the visiting Wadena-Deer Creek/Long Prairie-Grey Eagle squad, winning 10-1, and outshot the Blue Devils by a hefty 44-14 margin.
DL scored early and scored often, while freshman goalie Veronica Roy had another solid game in the nets with 14 saves.
"We've been going through the season playing some very tough opponents, but we've been getting our shots off," said DL head coach Dan Maloney.
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"But tonight, we were able to get a little better looks and started building some confidence in scoring."
The Lakers (5-12-1) scored in bunches, starting with a 5-0 lead after one period.
DL added three more in each of the second and third periods, while the Blue Devils broke up the shutout on a goal by Leah Dykhoff at the 7:50 mark in the third.
All three lines jumped into the offensive action, with eight different Lakers finding the back of the net.
Forward Shannon Utecht notched a pair of goals, as well as an assist, while Hayley Maloney scored twice, with one assist.
Defensive player Tiffany Iverson opened the scoring barrage at the 4:51 mark in the first, with Emily Raboin gaining the helping hand.
From there, the Lakers took turns putting the puck in the net, with goals from Brianna Seebold, Callie Johnson, Emily Payne, Alexis Fritz and Ashley Friesen.
"All three lines have been working hard in practice and it was good to see all of them get opportunities to score," Dan Maloney said. "Getting that 5-0 lead, I tell you, is 100 percent momentum, and it's easier to move the puck.
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"It was just nice to see the puck go in the net."
The Blue Devils (5-8) had 34 saves by Samantha Gorka and Sarah Holm.
DL traveled to Fergus Falls (7-9) Saturday for a big section matchup and will host No. 4 Class 1A ranked Crookston (11-6) Tuesday, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Laker results
Wadena-Deer Creek/Long Prairie-Grey Eagle at Detroit Lakes, Thursday, Jan. 14.
Blue Devils 0 0 1 - 1
Lakers 5 3 2 - 10
First period -- 1. DL, Tiffany Iverson (Emily Raboin) 4:51; 2. DL, Brianna Seebold (Callie Johnson) 5:42; 3. DL, Shannon Utecht (Hayley Maloney) 8:27; 4. DL, Maloney (Utecht, Ashley Friesen) 10:31; 5. DL, Johnson (Emily Payne, Seebold) 11:35.
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Second period -- 6. DL, Payne (Seebold, Johnson) :09; 7. DL, Utecht (Raboin) 9:34; 8. DL, Alexis Fritz (UA) 12:54.
Third period -- 9. DL, Maloney (Johnson) 4:34; 10. DL, Friesen (Sydney Haman) 6:50; 11. WDC, Leah Dykhoff (UA) 7:50.
Saves -- DL (Veronica Roy) 3 6 5 - 13...WDC (Sarah Holm) 9 17 - 26; (Samantha Gorka) 9.
