BEMIDJI -- Another top-five Class AA team made its way to Bemidji Community Arena on Thursday, and the game ended with the same result.
Senior forward Garret Worth had two goals and an assist to lead Duluth East to a 3-0 win over Bemidji, the same score of the Moorhead defeat on Tuesday.
But for the Greyhounds (2-0-1) coming in as the second-ranked team in Minnesota, the Jacks held their own for the majority of the contest.
“We ran around a little bit at times, but (the reason for) our running around was keeping the puck to the outside,” BHS head coach Eric Monsrud said. “We really didn’t give up too much in the grade-A scoring opportunities until later on in the game.”
After each team killed off a penalty in the early minutes of the first period, Worth opened the scoring with his first goal at the 10:26 mark. Luke LaMaster and Ian Mageau picked up assists.
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The Lumberjacks (2-3) had a few scoring chances on a power play during the last 1:59 of the period, but Greyhounds goalie Parker Kleive and the killers in front of him were able to keep it out of the net.
The middle period featured two physical teams. Duluth East had the size advantage, but the Lumberjacks also laid the lumber. The officials controlled the style of play on several instances, as the Greyhounds were called for five penalties and the Lumberjacks two over the 17 minutes.
Despite all the power plays, neither team was able to score, and the game stayed 1-0 headed into the final stanza.
The Lumberjacks’ best scoring chance came in the third period on a dominant shift from Joe Leitner, Hunter Olson and Zak Justice. They produced a scramble with a loose puck in front of the net with Kleive sprawled out in the crease, but they couldn’t bury an equalizer.
Soon after, the Greyhounds took it to the other end, Worth found Mageau, and Mageau buried a shot five hole for a 2-0 lead at the 7:16 mark.
The Lumberjacks took two penalties down the stretch, which kept the puck in their defensive zone.
After a timeout in the closing minutes, Bemidji pulled goalie Matt Fitzgerald for the extra attacker, but Worth buried the empty netter with 27 seconds left to seal the win for the Hounds.
Fitzgerald stopped 36 of 39 shots faced, and the Jacks managed 17 shots on goal at the other end.
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The win brings Duluth East head coach Mike Randolph to 599 on his career. He’ll go for 600 when the Greyhounds host Andover on Saturday.
Even though this week’s games resulted in two 3-0 shutouts, Monsrud said the games will prove valuable as the season goes along.
“It’s huge for us,” he said. “It’s a nice confidence builder, and it gives us an opportunity. It gives us a gauge to say, ‘Hey, we can play with these top teams, we really can. We can skate with them.’ It’s just a matter of everybody has to be playing their A-game – I should say our AA-game – when we do play these teams.
“In the end, we’re going to be a different team at Christmas time, and we’re going to be a different team come the end of the year. We’re in good shape.”
Because of injuries to Ryan Pogue and Tanner Hammitt (both senior forwards and captains), the Jacks have been forced to shuffle lines the last couple of games. Pogue was able to return Thursday night.
The top priority for the forwards right now, according to Monsrud, is strength along the wall.
“I’m looking for guys that can be tough along the rail,” Monsrud said. “If you can show me that you’re being tough along the rail, you’re going to get some ice time. That’s where we struggle at, is playing the puck along the boards. We’re not strong enough, so that’s kind of why we’re switching up.”
The Jacks get the weekend off to recuperate after the difficult week before heading to Thief River Falls to play the Prowlers at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
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Duluth East 3, Bemidji 0
DE 1 0 2 -- 3
BHS 0 0 0 -- 0
First Period -- 1, DE, Worth (La Master, Mageau), 10:26.
Second Period -- No Scoring.
Third Period -- 2, DE, Mageau (Worth), 7:16; 3, DE (Empty Net), Worth (Donovan), 16:33.
Goaltending (Shots-Saves) -- BHS, Fitzgerald (39-36), 2 GA; DE, Kleive (17-17), 0 GA.
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