Crookston Boys Hockey two third period goals gives them a win over Red Lake Falls

The Crookston Pirate Boys Hockey team scored 13 seconds into the game, but they needed two third period goals to get a 3-2 come from behind victory over the Red Lake Falls Eagles in a Section 8A game at Cardin Hunt Arena in Red Lake Falls.

FIRST PERIOD
The game couldn’t have started any better for Crookston, as they won the faceoff and skated into the Red Lake Falls zone. Jay Reese knocked the puck toward the side of the far circle, and Tate Hamre used his long arms to slap at the puck. It snuck by the Eagle goalie, and Crookston took a 1-0 lead 13 seconds into the game.
Red Lake Falls answered two minutes later on their second shot of the game as the always dangerous Gavin Girdler skated into the Pirate zone into the slot and rifled a wrist shot into the goal to tie the game at 1-1 2:50 into the game. The fast-paced first three minutes of the game was a sign of things to come the rest of the period.
Both teams continued to fly up and down the ice as they combined for a total 24 shots on goal in the period, but both goaltenders were up to the task the rest of the period and the score was tied at 1-1 after the first period.

SECOND PERIOD
Red Lake Falls came out strong on the defensive end in the second period as they looked to play the body more and made a statement early with some big checks. The Eagles continued to pepper the Pirate goal with shots, but Kelly was up to the task until there was 3:25 remaining in the period. Gavin Girdler got a rebound about 15 feet from the net and spun and got a shot on goal, and it went right by the goalie and into the net to give Red Lake Falls a 2-1 lead.
Crookston finished the period strong, getting three of their five shots on goal in the final minutes of the period, with one of them coming on a beautiful move by Garret Fischer. He got by the defenseman and put a shot on goal, but the Eagles’ Wirth made the save to keep the Eagles lead at 2-1, which is how the period ended.

THIRD PERIOD
Crookston had another great start to the period, scoring 59 seconds into the period. Tate Hamre brought the puck up the ice and was checked as he crossed into the Eagle zone. As Hamre was hit, the puck kept going, and Jay Reese picked up the puck and found the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2.
The teams continued a fast-paced up-and down-the-ice battle with big checks and several quality scoring chances. Both goalies continued their stellar play. With 7:15 remaining in the game, Crookston’s Riley Benson brought the puck up the ice along the boards and was checked off the puck, but Jay Reese picked up the puck and got it to Gavin Aakhus, who sniped a shot into the net to give Crookston a 3-2 lead.
Red Lake Falls pulled the goalie in the final minutes of the game for 6-on-5 hockey. The Eagles peppered the net with several shots in the final 90 seconds, but Crookston’s Parker Kelly made the saves, including getting a skate blade on one of the shots. Aakhus also blocked a shot, and Crookston held off the late Red Lake Falls flurry to win 3-2.

Crookston improves to 2-0 on the year and 2-0 in Section 8A play and will host Wahpteon-Breckenridge on Tuesday, December 3. Red Lake Falls drops to 2-1 on the year and 2-1 in Section 8A play. They will travel to Wadena-Deer Creek on Tuesday, December 3.