The Owatonna power play has been very dangerous against the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team and that trend continued Friday at the City Arena as the Huskies handed the Tigers a 3-1 defeat behind two power play goals.

Owatonna took a 1-0 lead in the first period 6 minutes, 33 seconds into the game when Taylor Disher slipped a shot past Albert Lea goaltender Kelli Hanson.

The Tigers responded in the second period at 3:58 when Madi Passingham scored to tie the game at 1-1.

The Huskies (6-2) found the game-winning goal at 3:03 in the third when Cailyn McCauley scored. Owatonna added another power play goal in the third when Christina Rozeske connected on an assist from Leah Bird at 8:46.

“The power plays are what killed us,” said Albert Lea head coach Brian Blatti. “We played them last year and lost 5-2 and they got four power play goals. Instead they got two power play goals. We’ve got a little work to do on the PK. I think we were out of position a couple of times.”

The Tigers (1-4, 1-3) had plenty of opportunities of their own in the game as they outshot the Huskies 29-26. Albert Lea had a flurry of activity in the Owatonna zone late but failed to come away with any goals.

“We’ve got to crash the net a little bit more,” Blatti said.

The Tigers outshot the Huskies in the final two periods and had their best chances in the third.

“We had a great third period, but the game is three periods long and you have to do that all three periods,” Blatti said. “There are five people out there, we’ve got to use each player and not rely on one or two.”

The Huskies extended their winning streak to four games with the victory.

Owatonna was playing in its eighth game of the season while Albert Lea in just its fifth. The difference in games did have some effect, Blatti said.

“They’re all three games up on us and have had time to work out the little kinks,” Blatti said. “We’re gettng close.”

Blatti said the team needs to refine its passing and forecheck by making sharper passes and being more aggressive.

Albert Lea faced Austin Saturday in Austin.

Owatonna 3, Albert Lea 1

1st 2nd 3rd

Owatonna 1 1 1 — 3

Albert Lea 0 1 0 — 1

GOAL SCORING:

1st period: Owatonna — Taylor Disher (power play) (Leah Bird, Cailyn McCauley 6:33

2nd period: Albert Lea — Madi Passingham (Lauren Klick, Amy Gackstetter)

3:58

Owatonna — McCauley (Marley Hunt) 3:03

3rd period: Owatonna — Christina Rozeske (power play) (Bird) 8:46

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1st 2nd 3rd

Owatonna 11 9 6 — 26

Albert Lea 8 14 7 — 29

POWER PLAY CONVERSION: Owatonna 2-for-4, Albert Lea 0-for-4