North Iowa pounded the Albert Lea cage all night long in an 8-2 victory in Mason City Saturday night.

The Outlaws (17-10-2) tallied 45 shots on goal and scored five times in the first period to overrun the Thunder (2-25-3).

Rob Johnson started the game with two goals in the first four minutes for North Iowa. Johnson scored a shorthanded goal 2 minutes, 55 seconds into the game and added another goal at 3:47.

Anthony Brown tried to keep Albert Lea in the game with a power play goal that made it 2-1 at 7:42, but the Outlaws went on to score three more goals in the period and a total of six more in the game. It was the third straight game Brown has scored on the power play.

Tom Lescovich was pulled midway through the third period and made 29 stops on 36 shots. Mat Rabin came on in place of Lescovich and made eight saves on nine shots.

Mitch Torrel and Danny Wood connected for a goal in the second period but that was all the scoring the Thunder would do.

North Iowa pulled into a tie for first place in the division with the win. The Outlaws have won eight of their last nine.

It was the third loss of the week for Albert Lea and was a fairly clean game penalty-wise. The Thunder had just five penalties while the Outlaws had five as well.

Albert Lea and North Iowa hook up on Dec. 31 at the City Arena.

Albert Lea 1 1 0 — 2

North Iowa 5 1 2 — 8

First period— 1. North Iowa, Rob Johnson (unassisted), 2:55 (sh.) 2. North Iowa, Johnson (Travis Baker) 3:47, 3. Albert Lea Anthony Brown, (Ian Braun, Jimmie Perkins), 7:42 (pp.). 4. North Iowa Brandon Brodhag (Travis Peckskamp, Alex Carlson), 8:19. 5. North Iowa, Joe Harcharik (Joe Harren, Jack Paul) 9:50. 6. Travis Peckskamp (Alex Carlson, Brandon Brodhag), 13:11 (pp.).

Second period— 7. North Iowa, Alex Carlson (Brandon Brodhag, Jon Crouse), 7:06. 8. Albert Lea, Mitch Torrel (Danny Wood), 16:42.

Third period— 9. North Iowa, Travis Peckskamp (Anthony Raiola, Brandon Brodhag), 6:29. 10. Ryan Bohrer (Derek Donohue, John O’Niel), 8:09.

Shots on Goal— Albert Lea 26, North Iowa 45

Power-play opportunities— Albert Lea 1 of 4, North Iowa 1 of 4.

Goalies— Albert Lea, Tom Lescovich 2-14-2 (36-29). North Iowa, Thomas Callaghan 13-6-2 (26-24)

A — 575. T — 3:24.