The Tigers must have felt like they were in quicksand Friday against Virginia-Mt. Iron-Buhl at the City Arena.

The Albert Lea boys’ hockey team started strong, outshooting the Blue Devils in the first period, but the Tigers (8-3-0) found themselves sinking slowly the rest of the way in a 3-1 loss to Virginia.

The Blue Devils found the game-winner at 13 minutes, 29 seconds in the third period when Jordan Krebsbach ripped a shot from the right circle past Albert Lea goalie John Wrolson on the power play. Krebsbach added an empty net goal with eight seconds remaining for the 3-1 final.

After a strong first period the game became muddled for the Tigers as second period penalties hampered any chance of them taking a lead.

Albert Lea killed off four penalties in the second period.

“That’s where we lost a little bit of our momentum,” said Tigers head coach Roy Nystrom. “You tire yourself out when you’re killing penalties the whole doggone time. You gotta move your feet in this game, you don’t move your feet, you pick up those penalties.”

Albert Lea had difficulty finishing its chances throughout the game. The chances were plentiful in the first period, but decreased as the game wore on.

“First period, I thought we should have had four goals,” Nystrom said. “Then in the second period we had to kill penalties the whole time.”

Virginia goalie Will Listig faced 27 shots from the Tigers and made the saves he needed to, but Nystrom felt the team could have placed the shots better.

“He was good, but we helped him out an awful lot,” Nystrom said. “I don’t know how many times we hit him in the letters.”

The Blue Devils (9-4-0) scored the first goal of the game when Chris Westin scored at 11:34 on the power play.

The Tigers responded 1:25 later with a Tyler Prihoda goal on the power play at 12:59 to tie the game 1-1.

But whatever momentum Albert Lea might have gained with the tying goal was quickly lost in the second period. In the second the Tigers killed off two brief 5-on-3 power plays to keep Virginia off the board.

The penalty kill wouldn’t be able to keep up its success in the third period though. On the lone penalty of the period for Albert Lea, the Blue Devils took advantage and delivered the game-winning goal.

“It was a good game,” Nystrom said. “Our kids learned that they can play with the boys from the north.”

The Tigers played Hibbing Saturday at the City Arena.

Virginia-Mt. Iron-Buhl 3, Albert Lea 1

Virginia-Mt. Iron-Buhl 1 0 2 — 3

Albert Lea 1 0 0 — 1

First Period— 1. Virigina-Mt. Iron-Buhl, Chris Westin, (Garrett

Hendrickson, Andrew Judnick) 11:34 (pp.). 2. Albert Lea, Tyler

Prihoda, (Grant Stadheim, Taylor Draayer) 12:59 (pp.). Penalties—

Mason Tuohy, AL (high sticking), 10:49; Wes Judnick, V (slashing),

12:14.

Second period— no scoring. Penalties— Chris Westin, V (elbowing), :

13; Mason Tuohy, AL (tripping), 3:54; Jordan Krebsbach, V

(interference), 4:39; Grant Stadheim, AL (interference), 7:59; Taylor

Draayer, AL (holding), 9:29; Casey Marka, AL (hooking), 10:55.

Third period— 3. Virginia-Mt. Iron-Buhl, Jordan Krebsbach, (Nathan

Dahl, Chris Westin) 13:29 (pp.). 4. Virginia-Mt. Iron-Buhl, Jordan

Krebsbach (unassisted) 16:52 (empty net). Penalties— Tony Buccanero,

V (slashing), 3:23; Chris Westing, V (cross checking), 10:19; Grant

Stadheim, AL (tripping), 13:16.

Shots on Goal: Virginia 7-16-10 — 33. Albert Lea 13-9-5 — 27.

Power-play opportunities — Virginia 2 of 6; Albert Lea 1 of 5.

Goalies— Virginia, Will Listig (27 shots-26 saves); Albert Lea,

Wrolson (33 shots-30 saves)