Pederson's hat trick, assist lift Panthers by DL

Alex Pederson's hat trick and assist led the Park Rapids-Menahga-Nevis-Walker-Hackensack-Akeley girls hockey team to a 5-1 win over Detroit Lakes Tuesday night at the Ted O. Johnson Ice Arena.

Pederson's power-play goal at the 5:54 mark of the first period gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Hannah Williams assisted on that goal.

Danika Aletto and Pederson assisted on a goal by Bailee Jerger at the 13:22 mark of the second period to give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

Pederson completed her hat trick with a shorthanded goal at the 5:03 mark and a power-play goal at the 9:50 mark of the third period. Williams and Jerger assisted on Pederson's second power-play goal of the game.

Williams' goal at the 14:13 mark gave the Panthers a 5-0 lead.

Goalie Shania Johnson made 20 saves for the Panthers, who improved to 5-7 on the season with their third consecutive win. Park Rapids defeated Detroit Lakes 4-2 earlier in the season.

Park Rapids held a 27-21 advantage in shots as the Lakers fell to 1-9 on the season.

"We've been getting good goaltending, team play is getting better and each line is starting to produce," said Park Rapids head coach Gary Vaudrin about his team's three-game winning streak. "We know we have to skate hard and play at an upper level to our opponent."

Detroit Lakes 0 0 1...1

Park Rapids 1 1 3...5

FIRST PERIOD: 1, Park Rapids, Pederson (Williams), 5:54.

SECOND PERIOD: 2, Park Rapids, Jerger (Aletto, Pederson), 13:22.

THIRD PERIOD: 3, Park Rapids, Pederson (unassisted), 5:03. 4, Park Rapids, Pederson (Williams, Jerger), 9:50. 5, Park Rapids, Williams (unassisted), 14:13. 1, Detroit Lakes, Johnson (Haman), 16:34.

GOALIE SAVES: Detroit Lakes (Badurek) 5-10-7-22. Park Rapids (Johnson) 7-8-5-20.

Thelen leads Panthers past Eveleth

Ashley Thelen scored a pair of goals in leading the Panthers to a 4-0 win over Eveleth-Gilbert last Saturday at the Ted O. Johnson Ice Arena.

Pederson and Julia Renner set up Thelen's first goal at the 3:05 mark of the first period while Williams assisted on Thelen's second goal just 9 seconds into the second period as the Panthers claimed a 2-0 lead.

After Christina Smith scored at the 4:48 mark, a power-play goal by Pederson at the 10:55 mark gave the Panthers a 4-0 lead. Mady Vaudrin assisted on Pederson's goal.

Johnson stopped all 11 shots she faced as the Panthers recorded their second shutout of the season. The Panthers fired 47 shots on goal.

Eveleth-Gilbert 0 0 0...0

Park Rapids 1 3 0...4

FIRST PERIOD: 1, Park Rapids, Thelen (Pederson, Renner), 3:05.

SECOND PERIOD: 2, Park Rapids, Thelen (Williams), :09. 3, Park Rapids, Smith (unassisted), 4:48. 4, Park Rapids, Pederson (Vaudrin), 10:55.

THIRD PERIOD: No scoring.

GOALIE SAVES: Eveleth-Gilbert (Bonicatto) 13-15-15-43. Park Rapids (Johnson) 1-8-2-11.

Vaudrin's hat trick sparks win

Vaudrin tallied a hat trick as the defense scored five goals in an 8-1 win over Benson/Morris at Morris last Thursday night.

Vaudrin scored her first goal 14 seconds into the game, Danika Aletto followed with a goal a minute later and Vaudrin scored again at the 2:45 mark. Goals by Pederson and Tayah Otterness gave the Panthers a 5-0 lead after the first period. Renner, Thelen and Sara Gorder had assists in the first period as the Panthers dominated with a 21-1 advantage in shots.

Serena Aletto and Morgan Douvier set up a goal by Lexi Hinkley-Smith at the 7:57 mark of the second period and Vaudrin assisted on a goal by Williams at the 10:03 mark as the Panthers extended their lead to 7-0. Kendra Dresow and Williams assisted on Vaudrin's third goal of the game at the 16:08 mark to conclude the scoring.

Goalie Bailey Moore made seven saves for the win as the Panthers finished with a 32-8 advantage in shots.

Park Rapids 5 3 0...8

Benson/Morris 0 1 0...1

FIRST PERIOD: 1, Park Rapids, Vaudrin (Renner), :14. 2, Park Rapids, D. Aletto, 1:14. 3, Park Rapids, Vaudrin, 2:45. 4, Park Rapids, Pederson (Thelen), 8:45. 5, Park Rapids, Otterness (S. Gorder), 11:09. Penalties: None.

SECOND PERIOD: 6, Park Rapids, Hinkley-Smith (S. Aletto, Douvier), 7:57. 7, Park Rapids, Williams (Vaudrin), 10:03. 1, Benson, Daly (Shropshire), 13:13. 8, Park Rapids, Vaudrin (Dresow, Williams), 16:18. Penalties: Park Rapids 0, Benson 3.

THIRD PERIOD: No scoring. Penalties: Park Rapids 2, Benson 1.

GOALIE SAVES: Park Rapids (Moore) 1-4-2-7. Benson (Wold) 16-6-2-24.