Thinking inside the box
Published 11:26 pm Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Albert Lea’s Darik Weigel (13) and Cody Haaland (21) maneuver the puck around a Winona defender. -- Andrew Dyrdal
Albert Lea beat Winona 6-2 despite 14 penatlies, 25 between both teams
The Albert Lea Tigers and Winona Winhawks boys’ hockey teams combined for 25 penalties Tuesday at City Arena, with 22 coming in the final two periods.
Luke Cheever, Levi Hacker and Eli Malimanek each scored two goals for the Tigers (12-6, 6-2 Big Nine), who beat the Winhawks (4-11-1, 2-7) 6-2 and tied a season-high three-game winning streak.
Cheever scored a power-play goal 7 minutes and 32 seconds into the first period to put the Tigers ahead 1-0 and Hacker notched
Albert Lea’s Cody Haaland takes a shot Tuesday from the blueline at City Arena between two Winona defenders. Albert Lea beat Winona 6-2 and swept the season series between the two teams. -- Andrew Dyrdal
the Tigers’ second goal less than four minutes later.
Malimanek scored at 15:43 to give Tigers a 3-0 lead after the first period.
Cheever and Malimanek each netted goals during the first seven, penalty-free minutes of the second period before the whistles started to blow.
Over the final 10 minutes of the second period, 22 minutes of time in the penalty box were given between both teams on 11 penalties. The Winhawks’ Thomas Lueck pulled Winona within 5-1 at the 12:27 mark, one of the few times both teams were at full strength.
The Winhawks scored again early in the third period when Sam Larson scored a power-play goal at 3:23 to pull Winona within 5-2 but they didn’t get any closer.
Hacker scored at 11:43 to make the final 6-2 after an 11-penalty third period.
The Tigers outshot the Winhawks 41-24, scoring on 15 percent of their shots.
The Tigers remain one game out of first place in the Big Nine and play at 7:30 p.m. at Faribault (6-10-1, 4-2) on Thursday.
