In an up-and-down game the difference became special teams and Austin’s power play came through with two goals to hand Albert Lea a 4-2 loss at the City Arena Thursday.

The Packers (7-9-3) avenged an earlier loss to the Tigers (8-11-0) by connecting on two of their four power play opportunities.

Kyli Ellingson scored the first goal of the game, a power play goal, at 14 minutes, 51 seconds in the first period on a shot from the left circle where Albert Lea goaltender Kelli Hanson was screened.

Katie Nelson tied the game when skated the length of the rink and walked in front of the net to bury her own rebound at 2:13 in the second period.

But Austin went on the power play again and Catherine Wagner scored her first goal of the game off a rebound at the back post to make the game 2-1.

One minute later Madi Passingham tied the game again when she got a stick on a loose puck in front of the Packers cage.

In the third Wagner struck again, this time for the game-winner as she skated up the left side of the rink past the Albert Lea defense to give Austin a 3-2 lead at 3:10. Alexandria Larson added an insurance goal four minutes later.

Albert Lea outshot the Packer 43-35 and had a handful of scoring opportunities. Lauren Klick missed a breakaway chance late in the third while the Tigers had two chances in the first period as well.

“It was a good game,” Albert Lea head coach Brian Blatti said. “It was a fast moving game back and fourth.”

The difference was the Austin power play.

“I think what hurt us the most was the power play goals,” Blatti said. “We have to work on our penalty kill and be a little more strict in our positioning.”

The game was emblematic of the season for the Tigers as they have come up short in a number of games.

“Austin’s a decent team it would have been nice to come back with a win today,” Blatti said.

Austin 4, Albert Lea 2

Austin 1 1 2 — 4

Albert Lea 0 2 0 — 2

First period— 1. Austin, Kyli Ellingson (Ashley Crump, Catherine Wagner), 14:51. Penalties— Carley Grunewald, A, (tripping), 2:57; Sophia Jepson, AL, (cross checking), 13:01; Grunewald, A, (holding), 17:00.

Second period— 2. Albert Lea, Katie Nelson (unassisted), 2:13. 3. Austin, Wagner (Ellingson, Grunewald), 14:15 (pp.). 4. Albert Lea, Madi Passingham (Lauren Klick), 15:15. Penalties— Alixandria Borland, A, (interference), 2:29; Jepson, AL, (elbowing), 5:19; Passingham, AL, (tripping), 13:03; Ellingson, A, (hooking), 16:15.

Third period— 5. Austin, Wagner (Vanessa Talamantes), 3:10. 6. Austin, Alexandria Larson (Abby Gallaher), 5:45. Penalties— Ellingson, A, (high sticking), 6:28; Nelson, AL, (tripping), 8:19.

Shots on Goal: Austin 14-12-9 — 35; Albert Lea 14-18-11 — 43.

Power-play opportunities— Austin 2 of 4; Albert Lea 0 of 5.

Goalies— Austin, Audrey DeVries (43 shots, 41 saves); Albert Lea, Kelli Hanson (35 shots, 31 saves).