Prior Lake entered last week's Sport Authority Holiday Hockey Classic with a 7-1 record, but the mark was tarnished by three straight losses to top-tier teams (Elk River, Moorhead and Holy Family Catholic).
Lakers coach Joe Pankratz was unfazed by the skid, knowing his team had outshot - and possibly outplayed - each of those opponents.
“Scoring goals isn’t as easy as it was through the first eight games where we were averaging six goals a game,” he said. “We played well. We just couldn’t score any goals.”
After being outshot 21-3 in the second period against Farmington on Thursday night, due mostly to Prior Lake spending 12 minutes on the penalty kill (including two 5-on-3’s), there was one message harped in the Prior Lake locker room in the second intermission: Throw everything on net and make the play.
Senior Jack Schulze used his 5-foot-7 frame and his mobility to make things happen in front of the net. He played a vital role in the game-tying goal before scoring the game-winner in the Lakers’ 6-4 victory over the Tigers as the South Suburban Conference rivals met at the Dakotah Ice Center in Prior Lake.
“We knew we had to put some shots on and get some lucky rebounds, but we knew we could come back,” he said.
Ranked No. 15 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, the Lakers dominated the first period but soon suffered from worn legs as No. 17-2A Farmington went on a four-goal swing in the second period to steal the lead.
A sense of urgency kicked in for Prior Lake, which crowded the front of the net and hoped for a shot to slip past Tigers goaltender Gavin Enright.
Schulze epitomized the Lakers' need for scrappy goals. He tipped Jackson Jutting's shot, redirecting the puck to Jake Cohn, who scored the game-tying goal. Schulze then swatted a Kevin Fellows' created rebound into the back of the net to decide the game.
“(Schulze is) a coach’s dream,” Pankratz said. “It’s a cliche, but he does all the little things right: responsible defensively, never complains and is willing to go into the dirty areas in front of the net and score from there.”
The goals weren’t pretty, and they didn’t come easy.
“Farmington’s got a good team, beating Wayzata and Lakeville North this season," Pankratz said. "Emotionally, having to kill so many penalties can be a test for high school kids, and for them to come back, stay out of the box in the third and keep working, it was a huge win.”
Battling through a bizarre second period that was a special teams showcase helped the Lakers (9-4, 8-0) remain atop the South Suburban Conference standings heading into a matchup on Saturday with two-time defending league champion No. 10-2A Lakeville North.
“Prior Lake hockey’s never been in this position before, so we know we’re out here to prove something and show them what we’re made of,” Schulze said.