TRF SCORES 3 THIRD PERIOD GOALS TO BEAT CROOKSTON BOY’S HOCKEY

The Crookston Pirate Boys Hockey gave up three goals in the third period and lost 4-1 to the Thief River Falls Prowlers on Thursday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Fall. 

The Prowlers would score on their first shot of the game when Grant Hartmann knocked down a clearing attempt along the right wall, sent a pass across the ice to Kaden Bakken in the left circle and Bakken ripped it into a wide-open net for a 1-0 lead with 15:01 to go in the first period.  The game would be tied just 19 seconds later as Joey Doda fired a shot on nets and Hartmann played the rebound outside his own crease and had the puck roll off his stick into the back of the net to tie the game 1-1 with 14:42 to go in the period.  Joey Doda was the closest Pirate to the puck, and he was awarded his 9th goal of the season.  “It was disappointing to let one in right away,” said Pirate coach Josh Hardy.  “We just made a mistake in coverage and they had a guy out front and Drags wasn’t able to get across in time.  We got back out there and got some pressure going.  Joey Doda puts a puck on net and there is a scramble out front and they end up knocking it into the back of their net.” The Pirates would hold the advantage in play for most of the rest of the first period until a late penalty gave the Prowlers a nice flurry on special teams.  “I thought we were strong in the first period and for the most part we were the better team,” said Hardy.  “We had the better chances and carried the play quite a bit.  Thief’s MO is that they start a little slow and we wanted to jump on them early.  I thought we did a nice job in the first.”  The score was tied 1-1 after one period of play. 

Neither team would score in the second period as the two teams played pretty evenly throughout the frame.  Both teams’ defenseman started to gamble with pressing forward towards the end of the period trying to get momentum with a late lead going into the break which created some odd-man rushes going the other way.  But both goaltenders were up to the task keeping the game knotted at 1-1 after two periods.  “I thought we were good in the second, it was a lot of back and forth,” said Hardy.  “I don’t think either team really had too many good chances per se.  We did a nice job keeping them to the outside limiting their ability to get deep on us.  We’re feeling good about ourselves heading into the third.”

The Prowlers dominated the third period from the drop of the puck outshooting Crookston 17-5.  The Pirates were however withstanding the onslaught before Jacob Anderson was called for interference with 12:34 to play.  The Prowlers would take the lead 29 seconds later.  Evan Bushy found Tucker Skime along the left wall and Skime fed Hunter Larson in the slot who fired a low shot along the ice the just missed the toe of Pirate goaltender Noah Dragseth’s skate making it 2-1.  “We take an unneeded penalty and they put one in the back of the net right away,” said Hardy.  “That’s what a good team does.  I talked about it at the beginning of the game, if we took less than three penalties were probably in good shape.  We took five and loss the game.”  The Prowlers kept the heat on the Pirates over the next five minutes before Hartmann found Bakken in the slot.  Bakken one-timed a shot over the glove of Dragseth for 3-1 lead.  Just over a minute later the Prowlers made it 4-1 when Evan Bushy buried a puck from the high slot, one of few shots he was able to get through on Dragseth all night with the Pirates trying to take away his time and space.  Bushy’s goal came on the powerplay with 4:52 to go. “We were keying on six being on the ice and were tight on him most of the night,” said Hardy.  “Give him time and space he’s going to score more often than not.  I also thought Drags was good tonight and took a nice step in his game.  There wasn’t much he could do on any of those goals, they all came on screens or tips.  Proud of him for stepping up in a big game and playing well, just wish we could’ve helped him out more in the third.”

The Pirates fall to 6-13-1 and will host the rival East Grand Forks Green Wave Saturday at 1:00 p.m.  The game can be heard on KROX.  Thief River Falls improves to 13-5-3. 

1st Period
15:01 – Thief River Falls  – Kaden Bakken (Grant Hartmann)
14:42 – Crookston – Joey Doda (9)  unassisted

2nd Period
No Scoring 

3rd Period
12:05 – Thief River Falls – Hunter Larson (Tucker Skime , Evan Bushy) (PP)
6:58 – Thief River Falls  – Kaden Bakken (Grant Hartmann)
4:52 – Thief River Falls – Evan Bushy (Kaleb Flaagan) (PP)