Through the first four games of the season, Van Zelenak led the Albert Lea boys’ hockey team with five of the Tigers’ 10 total goals.

In a 5-2 home win over Rochester John Marshall on Saturday, Zelenak played a different role as he dished out three assists and let his teammates light up the lamp.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Matt Cheever made a power-play goal on passes from Dalton Flatness and Zelenak.

The Rockets evened the score 1-1 with a goal at even strength by Paul Cyr with about 10 minutes left in the second period.

However, the Tigers exploded in the third period with four goals — three at even strength and one on a power play.

13 seconds into the third, Andrew Thompson scored on a pass from Zelenak. Thompson then assisted Dalton Flatness on a power play to give Albert Lea a 3-1 lead.

Rochester John Marshall cut its deficit to one goal (3-2) 7 minutes into the period and attempted to tie the game with 2 minutes left by pulling its goalie. Albert Lea’s Matt Cheever and Kohl Kriewall made the Rockets pay by scoring on an open net.

Albert Lea (3-2 overall, 2-2 Big Nine Conference) had five infractions for 10 minutes in the penalty box, and Rochester John Marshall had 20 minutes in the box for six infractions, including a 10-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the game by Jared Bromberg.

Albert Lea’s win snapped a streak of four straight wins by Rochester John Marshall in meetings between the two teams dating back to 2010.

Next, the Tigers host Mankato West at 7:30 p.m. today.