The Albert Lea Thunder had a lead for all of 3 minutes, 24 seconds Thursday against Owatonna at Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna.

As well as the Thunder (8-21-2) started in the first period it didn’t carry through and Albert Lea was dealt a 3-1 loss as the second-place Express (16-11-3) snapped a six-game losing streak.

Dan Cecka and Jake Youso connected for goals to lift Owatonna past the Thunder for the first time since Nov. 28 and Matt Hemingway stopped 35 shots in his first start for the Express.

After Taylor Ward put Albert Lea up 1-0 at 7:52 of the first with a power-play goal, Cecka connected on his 13th goal of the season on an assist from Youso at 11:16.

Cecka returned the favor in the second period as he and Brian McGinty assisted on Youso’s goal at 1:26 to put Owatonna on top 2-1. Chris Darnell added his 11th goal of the season 28 seconds later. Darnell’s goal was the fifth of the season against the Thunder.

Albert Lea outshot the Express 36-22 in the game.

The Thunder face Alexandria Friday in Alexandria.

Owatonna 3, Albert Lea 1

Albert Lea 1 0 0 — 1

Owatonna 1 2 0 — 3

First Period—1, Albert Lea, Taylor Ward 1 (Derek Docken, Ricky Brown), 7:52 (pp.). 2, Owatonna, Dan Cecka 13 (Jake Youso), 11:16. Penalties—Brian Nehring, Alb (hooking), :41; Chris Bournazos, Owa (tripping), 6:12; Marian Fiala, Owa (hooking), 8:32; Niko Kapetanovic, Alb (hooking), 13:32; Jake Suter, Owa (holding), 17:57.

Second Period—3, Owatonna, Youso 11 (Cecka, Brian McGinty), 1:26. 4, Owatonna, Chris Darnell 11 (John Haeg, Nick Widing), 1:54. Penalties—Bournazos, Owa (hooking), 4:01; Suter, Owa (interference), 6:54; Ward, Alb (tripping), 11:05; Haeg, Owa (checking from behind), 16:38.

Third Period—No scoring. Penalties—Alex Niestrom, Alb (tripping), 4:48; Brandon Lubin, Alb (tripping), 5:20; Nick Carson, Owa (unsportsmanlike conduct-game misconduct), 9:25; Kapetanovic, Alb (high sticking), 14:13; Kapetanovic, Alb (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:13; McGinty, Owa (holding), 16:33.

Shots on Goal—Albert Lea 14-11-11—36. Owatonna 6-11-5—22.

Power-play opportunities—Albert Lea 1 of 7; Owatonna 0 of 6.

Goalies—Albert Lea, Joe Rogers 6-11-2 (22 shots-19 saves). Owatonna, Matt Hemingway 1-0-0 (36-35).

A—489. T—2:13.

Referee—Andrew Wilk. Linesmen—Sam Shikowsky, Nicholas Bradshaw.