The special teams were just that for the Albert Lea High School boys’ hockey team Tuesday night.

Wednesday, February 13, 2002

The special teams were just that for the Albert Lea High School boys’ hockey team Tuesday night.

They were especially troublesome.

The Tigers went scoreless on five power-play opportunities while visiting Rochester Century scored twice in man-advantage situations to hand Albert Lea a 4-1 Big Nine setback at the City Arena.

&uot;The difference in the game was special teams,&uot; said ALHS coach Roy Nystrom. &uot;We might have had five shots on goal out of five penalties. Our power play was very ineffective. We didn’t control the puck in our zone, we didn’t move the puck around.&uot;

The Panthers’ first goal came on a power play, at 11:37 of the first period.

The Tigers’ lone score came a minute into the second stanza. Tony Dugstad scored it. Casey Schumaker assisted.

Century took the lead with a power-play goal at 9:08 of the second, adding an even-strength goal at 9:45. The Panthers’ fourth goal was at 2:58 of the third.

Nystrom said the Tigers matched up well with the Panthers everywhere but on special teams.

&uot;What it boils down to right now is we’re a pretty good five-on-five team,&uot; said Nystrom. &uot;We were certainly every bit as good as this team five-on-five. They outshot us 29-18, but most of their shots came on power plays and very few of our shots were on power plays.&uot;

The loss dropped the Tigers to 11-10 overall and 9-6 in the Big Nine. They finish the regular season Thursday against Winona at the City Arena.

Said Nystrom, &uot;If we’re going to go anywhere in the playoffs, we need to do better in our special teams.&uot;