ALEXANDRIA -The Central Lakes Conference had a meeting of its top two boys teams Tuesday night.
Brainerd (14-7) defeated Alexandria 5-2 in a sloppy game between two rival opponents.
The Warriors got things started early with a goal 31 seconds into the game. Wyatt Andres, who played his first game since coming off of a shoulder injury, shot the puck behind senior goaltender Bailey Rosch. Rosch was screened on the play.
After Brainerd committed one of its numerous penalties, Andres found himself alone on a breakaway shorthanded. Andres shot the puck below the glove of Rosch to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals thought they had cut the lead to one late in the first period when senior forward Ben Doherty found a loose puck in the middle of a scrum in front of the net and put it past junior goalie Luke Saiko. The goal was waved off after Alexandria junior forward Caleb Strong was called for a cross-checking penalty.
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The Warriors took a 2-0 lead into the locker room.
Alexandria avenged the goal that was waved off when Derek Pesta scored the Cardinal's first goal of the game with less than 14 minutes remaining in the second period.
Later in the period, Wyatt Andres found himself on a breakaway with a chance to complete the hat trick. After being tripped while taking the shot on the top of the circle, the referee crossed his arms above his head signaling for a penalty shot. Andres completed the hat trick after putting the puck over Rosch's right leg.
Alexandria suffered an unfortunate call when one of its senior leaders, Doherty, was called for a head butting infraction. Doherty received a five-minute major and was ejected from the game.
The Cardinals found a spark shorthanded when Joe Westlund cut the lead to 3-2 on a
breakaway late in the third period.
Brainerd took the one-goal lead into the locker room before the start of the final frame.
The Warriors, despite committing 10 penalties, battled through adversity and gained their third two-goal lead.
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Brainerd killed off two penalties late in the third period before hammering home an empty-net goal.
The win puts Brainerd at the top of the Central Lakes Conference with a 6-1 record. Alexandria suffered its second conference loss and fell to 12-2.
Brainerd has won seven of its last eight games as they are peaking at the right time in the season.
The Warriors head back home for a Thursday night matchup with River Lakes (12-11).
Alexandria 0 2 0-2
Brainerd 2 1 2-5
First period: Brd-Wyatt Andres (Brady Anderson, Mike Laber) 0:31; Brd-Wyatt Andres shg 10:38
Second period: Alex-Derek Pesta (Joe Westlund, Shane Birkeland) ppg 1:25; Brd-Wyatt Andres ps 3:19; Alex-Westlund (Ben Jenson) shg 15:05
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Third period: Brd-Hayden Kruse (Mason Kruse) 3:21; Brd-Brady Anderson (Joe Klang, Riley Andres) eng 14:45
Shots on goal: Brd 36, Alex 26
Goalies: Brd-Luke Saiko (24 saves); Alex-Bailey Rosch (26 saves)
Conference: Brd 7-1. Overall: Brd 14-7. Next: Brainerd hosts River Lakes 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7.
