Tuesday night marked the first game in six days for both Lakeville North and Burnsville, and given their combined 1-4-1 record in holiday tournaments last week, this was one neither could afford to lose.

Senior forwards Max Johnson and Taylor Schneider made sure Lakeville North would come out on top as each finished with two goals and two assists in the Panthers' 8-3 bounce-back victory over the Blaze (5-7-1) Tuesday night at Ames Arena in Lakeville.

Johnson said positivity was crucial in rebounding from the Panthers' poor tournament performance.  

“We knew we had to bounce back from an awful three games at the (Sports Authority Hockey Holiday Classic),” Johnson said. “We didn’t really know what was the deal with us...we just didn’t have the confidence we had in the first four games before that tournament.”

Currently ranked No. 10 in the Class 2A coaches' poll, Lakeville North did not have a jolly holiday break. The Panthers recorded a 4-4 tie against No.1-2A Benilde-St. Margaret's, but conceded a pair of 4-2 losses to No.4-2A Holy Family and No.9-2A Elk River.

Prior to the tournament, Lakeville North (6-4-1) was riding a four-game winning streak in which it outscored opponents 23-3, including three shutouts.

The Panthers' confidence was present throughout Tuesday's game, especially on offense as the reigning Class 2A state champions used their physicality to create great opportunities in Burnsville's zone.

Midway through the second period, Johnson scored to put Lakeville North ahead 7-2. Less than 10 seconds later, the senior captain controlled the puck, and on a highlight-reel play, put the puck between his legs before pushing it into back of the net.

The goal, however, was called off as the referee ruled Johnson swept the goalie's skate with his own. Johnson disagreed and talked with the official immediately after the play. Panthers coach Trent Eigner joined Johnson in continuing the discussion as the team cleared the ice for the second intermission, but to no avail.

“Whatever the call that’s called, you just have to deal with it and move on,” Johnson said.     

Eigner knew Johnson was upset.

“Anytime a kid is working hard and thinks he scores a goal, he’s a little frustrated,” Eigner said.

Johnson did eventually score, notching a goal in the third period that boosted his season total to a team-high 12 and giving him 19 points, the third most on the team.

Johnson tallied 37 points last season and 25 as a sophomore, and his postseason resume is pretty impressive with 11 goals and 13 assists in 12 games.

Johnson's talent caught the eye of the USHL as Sioux Falls drafted him in May 2014. But he has declined to play for the Stampede.

Instead, Johnson turned his attention to his high school team.

He has made a bigger commitment to helping Lakeville North be a more complete team, Eigner said.

“He’s definitely kind of redefined himself this year in terms of dedicating his efforts to the good of the team, which has been awesome to watch and very much appreciated by his teammates,” Eigner said.   

Johnson said his teammates make it easier to be a captain.

“Everyone’s respectful, everyone loves each other, everyone bonds and everyone listens," he said. "We got a group of guys who really care about the game and care about each other."

That strong chemistry will be key if the Panthers want to build toward the postseason with the same type of success they had prior to the holiday break.   

 

Tuesday night's matchup between Lakeville North and Burnsville was a hard fought conference battle. Despite the 8-3 score, there was plenty of fight in both teams. Photo by Korey McDermott

First Report

Senior forward Max Johnson finished with two goals and two assists in Lakeville North’s 8-3 dismantling of Burnsville in a South Suburban Conference game Tuesday night at Ames Arena in Lakeville.

The Panthers built a 4-0 lead in the game's first 14 minutes on goals from junior Henry Enebak, senior Logan Kappes, junior Max McGlade and senior Taylor Schneider. Johnson assisted on the Enebak and Kappes goals.

Blaze senior forward Cade Borchardt set up senior forward Gavin Wagner for a goal late in the first that ended Lakeville North's scoring streak, but it could slow the Panthers' momentum as Schneider scored his second of the period to send his team to the first intermission with a 5-1 lead. 

Lakeville North, ranked No. 10 in the Class 2A coaches poll, then got goals from Johnson and junior forward Ryan Poehling in the second and third periods to cruise to the win.   

Burnsville senior forward Gavin Wagner netted the Blaze’s first goal in the first period. Senior forward Cade Borchardt assisted on the play.

Senior Jake Thomas had a second-period power-play goal on assists from Nolan Sawchuk and Borchardt and senior defender Logan Osland scored in the third for the No. 19-2A Blaze.

Panthers junior goalie Buzz Eigner turned away 10 shots while junior Brody AufDerHeide and Nick Lee combined to stop 27. AudDerHeide was pulled following McGlade’s first-period goal but returned in the second period.   

Both teams continue conference play on Thursday as Lakeville North (6-4-1) travels to Eagan and Burnsville (5-7-1) battles Rosemount at home.   


Burnsville's Jake Thomas (5) with hard-fought goal while crashing the Lakeville North net. Photo by Korey McDermott

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