PARK RAPIDS – Red Lake Falls accomplished something no other team had been able to do against the Park Rapids-Menahga-Walker-Hackensack-Akeley boys hockey team this season.
Red Lake Falls used a 48-16 advantage in shots on goal to shut out the Panthers 5-0 in a game between Section 8A teams at the Ted O. Johnson Ice Arena on Monday, Jan. 30. That was the first time the Panthers have been held scoreless this season.
Goals by Blane Schmitz 3:28 into the game, Blake Brieland at the 10:37 mark and Evan Girdler with 17 seconds remaining gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead after the first period. Red Lake Falls outshot the Panthers 19-6 in the opening period.
Ty Kennett’s goal at the 5:58 mark and Girdler’s power-play goal at the 10:56 of the second period concluded the scoring. The Eagles held a 15-3 advantage in shots in that period.
Red Lake Falls outshot the Panthers 14-7 during a scoreless third period.
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The win kept Red Lake Falls undefeated against section opponents with a 9-0 record. The Eagles improved to 13-6 overall with their second shutout of the season. Red Lake Falls defeated the Panthers 7-4 in the season opener.
Goalie Sawyer Torkelson finished with 43 saves as the Panthers fell to 2-6-1 in section games and 8-11-1 overall with their third loss in a row.
Joining Red Lake Falls atop the Section 8A standings are Warroad at 16-3-1, Detroit Lakes at 14-4, Thief River Falls at 10-8 and East Grand Forks at 8-11. Rounding out the section standings are Bagley/Fosston at 11-9-1,Lake of the Woods at 6-10-1, Crookston at 3-14-1 and Kittson Central at 4-14-1. Warroad (No. 2) and Detroit Lakes (No. 9) were listed among the top 10 teams in the latest Let’s Play Hockey Class A poll while Thief River Falls, East Grand Forks and Red Lake Falls received votes.
