Thief River Falls scored three times in the third period to escape with a 5-2 Section 8A victory over the Park Rapids-Menahga-Nevis-Walker-Hackensack-Akeley boys hockey team Tuesday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Jarrett Johnson opened the scoring at the 11:35 mark of the first period to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Isaac Johnson assisted on that goal.
After Dylan Defreece's goal with 24 seconds to play in the first period tied the game, Aaron Myers scored 1:38 into the second period to give Thief River Falls a 2-1 lead. Park Rapids tied the game at 2-2 when Jarrett Johnson and Isaac Johnson assisted on a goal by Bjorn Jorgenson at the 10:22 mark.
The Prowlers prevailed as Jace Jorde scored the game-winner 2:38 into the third period. Myers scored at the 4:37 mark and Zachary Lee concluded the scoring with 35 seconds left as Thief River Falls improved to 3-0 against section teams and 6-7 overall.
Goalie Austin Jerger made 31 saves for the Panthers, who were outshot 36-22 in falling to 3-5 in the section and 3-11-1 overall.
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East Grand Forks at 4-0 (7-2-1 overall), Lake of the Woods at 4-0 (7-3-1 overall) and Northern Lakes at 2-0 (9-1-1 overall) join Thief River Falls with undefeated records in section play. Following the Panthers' 3-5 section record are Red Lake Falls at 2-2-1 (5-5-1 overall), Crookston at 2-3 (4-11 overall), Warroad at 1-2 (4-8-1 overall), Detroit Lakes at 1-2 (3-5-1 overall), Bagley/Fosston at 1-4 (2-8-1 overall) and Kittson Central at 0-5-1 (0-9-1 overall).
Park Rapids 1 1 0....2
Thief River Falls 1 1 3....5
FIRST PERIOD: 1, Park Rapids, J. Johnson (I. Johnson), 11:35. 1, Thief River Falls, Defreece (Kempert, Bushy), 16:36. Penalties: None.
SECOND PERIOD: 2, Thief River Falls, Myers, 1:38. 2, Park Rapids, Jorgenson (J. Johnson, I. Johnson), 10:22. Penalties: Park Rapids 1, Thief River Falls 3.
THIRD PERIOD: 3, Thief River Falls, Jorde (Lane, Bushy), 2:38. 4, Thief River Falls, Myers (Larson, Lee), 4:37. 5, Thief River Falls, Lee, 16:25. Penalties: Park Rapids 2, Thief River Falls 3.
GOALIE SAVES: Park Rapids (Jerger) 8-15-8--31. Thief River Falls (Corneliusen) 4-12-4--20.
