The Owantonna Express continued its mastery of the Albert Lea Thunder on Saturday night in Albert Lea at City Arena, earning a come-from-behind 6-5 overtime victory to drop the Thunder to 2-27-3 on the season.

The game-winner came from the stick of Owatonna’s Stephen Carew 60 seconds into overtime. The Express improved to 16-15-1.

“The boys got complacent,” said coach Brad Zangs. “That’ll happen with a lot of young teams. We just couldn’t finish.”

Zangs said a lot of “dumb penalties” contributed to the Thunder’s downfall. Albert Lea has yet to topple Owatonna, an NAHL Central Division foe. Both teams committed nine infractions.

The Thunder struck quickly and took a 3-1 lead after the first period against the Owatonna Express on Saturday night at City Arena. Albert Lea played even in the second period with the Express to enter the final period with a 4-2 advantage. Albert Lea’s first two goals were on the power play.

Owatonna wasted little time in closing the gap as Chris Bournazos and Brian McGinty both scored to draw even with 9:57 left.

The Thunder’s Niko Kapetanovic gave the home team a spark 15 seconds later with a goal to put Albert Lea up 5-4.

But Owatonna scored the game-typing goal short-handed with 2:59 left in regulation.

Albert Lea outshot the Express 37-31 and killed seven of Owatonna’s eight power play opportunities.

Thunder goalie Tom Lescovich saved 25-of-31 shots.

Albert Lea travels to Owatonna on Friday to take on the Express at the Four Seasons Centre.

Owatonna 6, Albert Lea 5 (Overtime)

Owatonna 1 1 3 1 — 6

Albert Lea 3 1 1 0 — 5

First period — 1. Albert Lea: Chris Cass (pp) (Jake Armijo) 4:39; 2. Albert Lea: Jimmie Perkins (pp) (Mark Ellis, Josh Botimer, 10:01; 3. Owatonna: Grant Fahnhorst 14:38; 4. Albert Lea: Zach Lewis 16:09.

Second period — 1. Owatonna: Stephen Carew (pp) (Jacob Sloat, Tony McDonald) 3:50; 2. Albert Lea: Tom Glomski (B.J. McClellan, Ellis) 14:41.

Third period — 1. Owatonna: Chris Bournazos (McDonald, Cory Thorson) 4:21; 2. Owatonna: Brian McGinty 10:03; 3. Albert Lea: Niko Kapeanovic (McClellan) 10:18; 4. Owatonna: David Kurbatsky (sh) 17:45.

Overtime — 1. Owatonna: Carew, 1:00.

Shots on goal: Albert Lea 37, Owatonna 31.

Power-play conversion — Albert Lea 2-for-8, Owatonna 1-for-8.

Goalies — Albert Lea: Tom Lescovich (L); Owatonna: Adam Buegler (40:00), Jason Horstman (11:00) (W).

A — 413; T — 2:18.