The Brainerd Warriors celebrated Parents Night before its Central Lakes Conference home matchup against the Sartell Sabres Tuesday, Jan. 22.
But the game quickly turned into Brothers Night as the combination of Westin and Riley Andres and Mason and Haden Kruse combined for four goals and four assists in the first period alone as the Warriors cruised to a 6-2 victory at Essentia Health Sports Center in Brainerd.
Brainerd, which has won three straight and five of its last six, grabbed a 5-1 lead after the first period, including exploding for a 3-0 lead in the opening 9:49. They also played well in the defensive end to start the game as they didn't surrender a shot until 6:18 left in the period.
"Our guys were ready to go from the puck drop," Mason Kruse said of the early lead. "I think our win over Duluth East (Friday, Jan. 18) gave us confidence that we can beat good teams."
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Eric Pohlkamp started the scoring when he took a nice pass from Westin Andres and fired a hard shot past Sabres netminder Cole Bright at 3:16. Mason Kruse made it 2-0 about a minute later when he picked up a loose puck and scored.
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Warriors 6, Sartell 2
- Key: Mason Kruse and Riley Andres each scored twice for Brainerd
- Conf: Brd 4-1, Sar 6-2
- Overall: Brd 11-6, Sar 12-5
- Next: Brainerd vs. St. Cloud at Municipal Athletic Complex 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24
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"The puck got behind (Sartell)," Mason Kruse said. "I picked it up, skated through the crease and waited out the goalie before scoring through the five hole."
Midway through the period, Mason Kruse took a centering pass from Anthony Menghini and scored his second goal to make it 3-0. Riley Andres expanded the lead to 4-0 less than two minutes later after he received a pass from Haden Kruse and cut through the crease to score.
Sartell netted its first goal when Michael Webster picked up the puck at center ice and broke in alone and fired a high shot past Warrior goaltender Jacob Mitchell at 13:03. But Brainerd answered in the final minute of the opening session when Riley Andres high shot found the net to make it 5-1.
Josh McLain deflected a shot off the crossbar and into the net to give the Warriors a 6-1 lead just 1:41 into the second period. But the remainder of the session was a goaltending battle as both Mitchell and Bright made admirable saves. Mitchell stopped a breakaway by Maddux Hagy midway through the period and then robbed Hayden Walters at close range in the final seconds.
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Sartell scored the only goal of the third period when Nick Plautz blasted a shot past Mitchell to make it 6-2. The game could have been closer except the Sabres banged four shots off the goal post in the final period.
Warrior notes:
• Brainerd improves to 4-1 in the Central Lakes, but still trails Alexandria (9-1) and Sartell (6-2) for conference wins. The Warriors also defeated the Sabres 3-0 Jan. 11.
• Brainerd's junior varsity edged Sartell 2-1 as Mason Argir and Jacob Drietz each scored. The Warriors improved to 11-3-3 overall.
Sartell 1 0 1-2
Brainerd 5 1 0-6
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First period: Brd-Eric Pohlkamp 2 (Westin Andres, Mike Laber) (ppg) 3:16; Brd-Mason Kruse 12 (Riley Andres) 4:50; Brd-Mason Kruse 13 (Anthony Menghini, Westin Andres) 9:49; Brd-Riley Andres 7 (Haden Kruse) 11:31; Sar-Michael Webster 13:03; Brd-Riley Andres 8 (Will Lindstrom, Josh McLain) 16:30
Second period: Brd-McLain 3 2:41
Third period: Sar-Nick Plautz 7:28
Shots on goal: Brd 28, Sar 11
Goalies: Brd-Jacob Mitchell (9 saves); Sar-Cole Bright (22 saves)
