The numbers were already thin to start with for the Albert Lea Blades and, 10 minutes into the first period, things got worse.

Standout defenseman Mike Carlson went down with a third-degree shoulder separation &045; the worst possible &045; and it left the Blades with only nine skaters in their final regular-season game against Rochester Landon Trophy.

They took a 4-2 lead into the third period but lost 5-4 at the City Arena.

&uot;They had some good skaters over here, and we just ran out of gas,&uot; said Blades general manager Jason Fornwald.

There will be more skilled skaters in town this weekend as the Blades host the Southern Minnesota Hockey League Tournament. The Blades face the Rochester Rookies at 1 p.m. Saturday, the Austin Outlaws at 8 p.m. Saturday and Landon Trophy at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the round-robin event.

The recent loss left the Blades 8-3-1 in the SMHL and 11-3-1 overall. The Rochester Rookies were 6-1-2 in the league entering the week but, according to Fornwald, they forfeit any games not played this week and the Blades could share or win the league title.

Justin Bolinger scored two goals while Don Savelkoul and Kris Ellsworth netted one apiece against Landon Trophy.

Fornwald was in goal the whole game as Rochester outshot the Blades 42-26.

Fornwald estimated the third-period shots on goal at 20-5 in favor of Rochester.

Both teams took two minor penalties, with Rochester getting a game misconduct for arguing with the officials.

&uot;We’ve had some great competition with these guys,&uot; said Fornwald. &uot;They’re a pretty physical team. Even though it’s a non-checking league, it tends to get pretty physical when we play these guys. Some tempers flared, and that’s why we lost Carlson, and it really proved costly in the third period.&uot;