For the first time this season, the Park Rapids-Menahga-Walker-Hackensack-Akeley boys hockey team failed to win a game in overtime.
The Panthers were undefeated at 3-0 in extended games before Breckenridge/Wahpeton ended that streak with a 3-2 overtime victory at Wahpeton on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
Breckin Spinks scored on a breakaway 1:48 into overtime as the Blades avenged a 2-1 loss to Park Rapids on Jan. 21. Breckenridge/Wahpeton, which entered this game being outscored 71-4 on the season, picked up its first victory despite being outshot 49-11.
After Tanner Barth scored off the opening faceoff to give the Blades a 1-0 lead, Park Rapids used goals by Jaxson Lund and Nash Mitchell to claim a 2-1 lead. Mitchell and Jack Slagle assisted on Lund’s power-play goal at the 4:51 mark while Caden Opheim and Josh Crandall set up Mitchell’s goal with :40 to play in the opening period. The Panthers controlled play in the opening stanza with a 20-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Nick Zach tied the game at 2-2 by scoring at the 9:58 mark of the second period. Breckenridge/Wahpeton was outshot 18-5 in that period.
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The Panthers held an 11-1 edge in shots during a scoreless third period as this game went into overtime.
Each team took a penalty in the final 30 seconds of regulation play to set up Spinks’ game-winner during a 4-on-4 situation. Goalie Jared Aamold finished with 47 saves as the Blades (who failed to score on eight power-play chances) improved to 1-9 on the season.
Goalie Collin Hoyt made eight saves for the Panthers, who were hurt by 24 minutes in penalties in falling to 4-5 on the season. Park Rapids has now played in six one-goal games in the last seven outings, going 4-2.
