The penalties starting coming at the wrong time for the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team Saturday against Red Wing and eventually there wasn’t much the Tigers could do to hold off the Wingers in overtime in a 2-1 loss at the City Arena.

Albert Lea was whistled for two penalties with 2 minutes, 9 seconds left to play in regulation, which included a 5-on-3 opportunity for Red Wing. The Tigers (6-8-0) successfully killed off the penalties, but was given a bench minor at the end of regulation when head coach Brian Blatti questioned the referee about a tripping penalty he felt the referee missed.

The referee assessed a technical to Blatti and Albert Lea played one skater down as overtime started.

Red Wing wasted little time in the overtime session as Lydia Wagner scored the game-winner 52 seconds into overtime to lift the Wingers over the Tigers.

The Albert Lea defense had been stellar to that point, but left Wagner open around the right circle and she fired a shot past Tigers goalie Kelli Hanson for her second goal of the game.

Albert Lea grabbed the lead near the end of the first period when Madi Passingham fired from the slot at 12:02 in the first.

“We need to get to crashing the net more,” Blatti said. “We gotta get more shots off.”

Red Wing outshot the Tigers 28-21 in the game, but Albert Lea had quality scoring opportunities throughout the game.

Wagner scored her first goal of the game 3:16 into the second period to tie the game at 1-1, but killing off numerous penalties in the third wore the Tigers down.

Albert Lea shuffled its lines as the team was without Natasha Moyer, who was out of town for the game. Moyer recorded four points for the Tigers in their previous game.

Rosie Alleva was a difficult player to stop for Albert Lea, but the Tigers contained her for the majority of the game. That is until overtime when she weaved her way through the Albert Lea defense to set up Wagner’s game-winner.

The Tigers face Mankato West Tuesday. The Scarlets are ranked No. 10 in Class 1A and are 13-3 on the season. Albert Lea lost 3-1 Nov. 25 to Mankato West.

Red Wing 0 1 0 1 – 2

Albert Lea 1 0 0 0 – 1

First period— 1. Albert Lea, Madi Passingham (Mariah Leach), 12:02. Penalties— Brittany Osmundson, AL (hooking), 5:22; Lydia Wagner, RW (cross checking), 7:24; Lauren Draayer, AL (roughing), 7:24; Katie Nelson, AL (hooking), 14:15.

Second period— 2. Red Wing, Wagner, (Brianna Sigler, Rosie Alleva), 3:16. Penalties— Kelsey Thomas, AL (high sticking), 9:53; Elle Anderson, RW (high sticking), 9:53; Paige Haley, RW (interference), 11:10; Jacqui Jepson, AL (hooking), 14:55.

Third period— No scoring. Penalties– Wagner, RW (elbowing), 5:51; Anderson, RW (tripping), 7:19; Sophia Jepson, AL (checking), 14:29; Passingham, AL (tripping), 14:51; Leach, AL (bench minor), 17:00.

Overtime— 3. Red Wing, Wagner, (Sigler, Alleva), :52 (pp.).

Shots on Goal: Red Wing 9-10-6-3 – 28; Albert Lea 9-3-9-0 – 21

Power-play opportunities— Red Wing 1 of 7; Alber Lea 0 of 5.

Goalies— Red Wing, Lisa Nibble (21 shots, 20 saves); Albert Lea, Kelli Hanson (28 shots, 26 saves).