Connor Kennedy and Noah MacPherson scored two goals apiece in leading the Park Rapids-Menahga-Nevis-Walker-Hackensack-Akeley boys hockey team to an 8-3 victory over Wadena-Deer Creek Thursday night at Wadena.
Kennedy's goal just 1:22 into the game gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Park Rapids held a 16-7 advantage in shots in the opening period.
MacPherson scored twice during a four-goal second period to put the Panthers in control. Frank Moren and Chris Walters set up MacPherson's first goal at the 3:09 mark while Luke Jaeger assisted on Kennedy's second goal at the 10:12 mark.
After W-DC scored 9 seconds later, Moren and Walters set up MacPherson's second goal of the game at the 16:07 mark. Kennedy received an assist as Drew Bade scored with just 11 seconds remaining as the Panthers carried a 5-1 lead into the final period. The Panthers also controlled the second period with a 16-6 advantage in shots.
Kade Navritil scored 1:10 into the third period and assisted on a goal by Raul Garcia at the 9:21 mark as the Panthers led 7-3. Ryan DeLaHunt assisted on Navritil's goal while Jeff Jacobson received an assist on Garcia's goal. Ian Johnson and MacPherson set up Moren for the game's final goal at the 14:56 mark as the Panthers held a 19-9 edge in shots in the final period.
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Goalie Cody Brumbaugh made 19 saves for the Panthers, who finished with a 51-22 advantage in shots.
The Panthers, who had Saturday's game at Lake of the Woods postponed because of the weather, improved to 1-2 on the season. W-DC fell to 3-4.
Park Rapids 1 4 3...8
Wadena-DC 0 1 2...3
FIRST PERIOD: 1, Park Rapids, Kennedy, 1:22. Penalties: None.
SECOND PERIOD: 2, Park Rapids, MacPherson (Moren, Walters), 3:09. 3, Park Rapids, Kennedy (Jaeger), 10:12. 1, W-DC, Pettit (Swanson), 10:21. 4, Park Rapids, MacPherson (Moren, Walters), 16:07. 5, Park Rapids, Bade (Kennedy), 16:49. Penalties: Park Rapids 2, W-DC 1.
THIRD PERIOD: 2, W-DC, Swanson (Pettit), :08. 6, Park Rapids, Navritil (DeLaHunt), 1:10. 3, W-DC, Berg (Behl), 4:06. 7, Park Rapids, Garcia (Jacobson, Navritil), 9:21. 8, Park Rapids, Moren (Johnson, MacPherson), 14:56. Penalties: Park Rapids 0, W-DC 1.
GOALIE SAVES: Park Rapids (Brumbaugh) 7-5-7-19. W-DC (Janson) 15-12-16-43.
