Despite outshooting Northern Lakes by a 53-38 margin, the Detroit Lakes boys' hockey team was digging out of a hole the entire game, due to a four-goal first period by the Lightning.
That scoring splurge was enough for a 5-4 victory over the visiting Lakers Thursday, dropping DL to 9-7-0 on the season as they suffered their first loss in the Mid-State Conference (4-1-0).
Ironically, the Lakers were the first ones on the board, as senior forward Nate Baker plugged a goal past Lightning goalie Joey Bergquist just 28 seconds into the game, with the assist going to junior forward Alex Mason.
But a scoring avalanche was ignited by Connor Chambers just over a minute later, as Northern Lakes added three more goals -- all power play tallies -- for a 4-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
Kyler Decent notched two of the power play scores, while Tyler Heinlen added the third.
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The Lightning players were a perfect 3-3 on their power play opportunities.
The lead was expanded to 5-1 on Decent's third goal of the contest 10:52 into the second, but the Lakers kickstarted their own rally, which was started by no other than Baker with his second tally just over two minutes later.
The Lakers outshot the Lightning by a hefty 15-5 margin in the third period, with forward Andy Schupp picking up two goals on special teams plays.
Schupp was assisted by Baker on both goals, the first being a shorthanded tally, while the second was a power play score, with defenseman Ethan Brekke adding an assist.
But time ran out on the Lakers, as senior goalie Blake Murphy finished with 33 saves in the losing cause.
Bergquist finished with 49 saves for the win.
Overall, Northern Lakes was 3-5 on power plays, while DL was 1-5.
The Lakers will look to rebound Friday against Prairie Centre (6-10-0) on the road, starting at 7:30 p.m.
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Laker results
Detroit Lakes at Northern Lakes (Pequot Lakes) Thursday, Jan. 20.
Lakers 1 1 2 - 4
Lightning 4 1 0 - 5
1st Period -- Scoring: DL - Baker (Mason) 0:28. NRTNLK - Chambers (Demars, Florey) 1:45. NRTNLK - Decent (Power Play) (Heinlen, Chambers) 8:18. NRTNLK - Heinlen (Power Play) (Chambers, Demars) 15:34. NRTNLK - Decent (Power Play) (Heinlen, Travis) 16:05. Penalties: Bickford, NRTNLK (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 2:56. Inderrieden, DL (Slashing, Minor, 2 min) 8:01. Bickford, NRTNLK (Tripping, Minor, 2 min) 12:47. Brekke, DL (Interference, Minor, 2 min) 13:50. Inderrieden, DL (Head Contact, Minor, 2 min) 14:49.
2nd Period -- Scoring: NRTNLK - Decent 10:52. DL - Baker (Mason, Brekke) 12:17. Penalties: Nelson, NRTNLK (Tripping, Minor, 2 min) 3:35. Nelson, NRTNLK (Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Minor, 2 min) 11:26. Schupp, DL (Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Minor, 2 min) 11:26. Houck, NRTNLK (Interference, Minor, 2 min) 11:26. Rusness, DL (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 16:54. Murphy, DTRTLK (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 16:54. Travis, NRTNLK (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 16:54. Chambers, NRTNLK (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 16:54. Mason, DL (Roughing, Minor, 2 min) 17:00.
3rd Period -- Scoring: DL - Schupp (Short Handed) (Baker) 0:48. DL - Schupp (Power Play) (Brekke, Baker) 15:58. Penalties: Lindquist, DL (Cross-Checking, Minor, 2 min) 5:57. Fitch, NRTNLK (Hooking, Minor, 2 min) 15:10. Travis, NRTNLK (Delay of Game, Minor, 2 min) 16:57. Mason, DL (Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Minor, 2 min) 16:57.
Shots on goal -- DL: 16 22 15 - 53...NL: 22 11 5 - 38.
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Saves -- DL (Blake Murphy) 33...NL (Joey Bergquist) 49.
