Muskie pucksters split against Eagles

If the Muskie boys’ hockey team isn’t the best team in NorWOSSA this season, they’re waiting for someone to prove to them otherwise.
The black-and-gold stamped themselves as the squad to beat after coming through with a 3-1 win against the host Dryden Eagles last night to run their league record to 8-0-1 and remain the only unbeaten team in NorWOSSA.
Mike Niskala scored the lone goal of the first period on the power play, assisted by linemates Steven Sus and Justin Larson.
After a scoreless second period, Larson netted the eventual gamewinner (unassisted) at 3:48 of the third.
Jared Krantz finally beat Muskie goalie Jason Green at 5:41 of the third to cut the lead to 2-1, but Larson picked up his third point of the night when he set up Niskala— again on the power play—at 8:49 to ice the victory.
In girls’ action, Fort High (0-4) turned in their best effort of the season in NorWOSSA play in a 4- 2 loss to the host Eagles.
After being outscored 28-1 in their first three league games, the Muskies hung tough in this one— with two third-period goals by the Eagles preventing Fort High from earning its first point in league action.
Felicia Fletcher opened the scoring at 7:15 of the first, but Katie McTavish responded for the Muskies with her first of the year (unassisted) at 15:40.
Only 11 seconds later, though, Dryden’s Nikki Kruger added to her earlier assist by scoring on a pass from Carly Brown to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead at intermission.
Courtney Caldwell tallied her second of the campaign (unassisted) at 11:59 of the second for the period’s only goal to pull Fort High even again.
But the dream died in the third thanks to goals by Joanna Lappage at 6:15 and Caitlin Egli at 15:58.
Muskie goalie Megan Bob stood on her head throughout the game, with the Eagles ringing up a 47-22 advantage in shots on goal.
The girls’ team heads to Rainy River tonight for a game against the Lake of the Woods Bears (Baudette), before both squads host the Red Lake Rams for a two-game set this weekend.
The boys will play the Rams on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Ice for Kids Arena and again at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in the ’52 Canadians Arena.
The girls—facing Red Lake in exhibition action—will hit the ice Friday at 7 p.m. in the ’52 Canadians Arena and again Saturday at noon in the Ice for Kids Arena.