Boys Hockey: Finally some breathing room

Tyler Jette started the third period outburst with a power play goal (photo by Jim Lindquist)

The red-hot Tigers won their seventh straight game and remained unbeaten in their last eight with a convincing 7-2 Missota Conference win over Chaska Tuesday night at Schmitz-Maki Arena.

Farmington, 12-3-1 overall, is 5-0-1 in the Missota and locked in a first place tie with New Prague. The Tigers and Trojans tied 4-4 when the two teams met in December at New Prague.

"It was nice to get a little breathing room in the third period," Tiger coach Keith Revels said of his team's four-goal final frame. "The game was looking much like some other recent games where we dominated play but could never build much of a lead."

The first period was Exhibit A backing up Revel's observation. The puck spent most of the period in the Chaska end of the rink but the teams left the ice for the first break knotted at two goals.

Farmington outshot the Hawks 15-6 over the first 17 minutes with Justin Novak and Joe Siebenaler accounting for the Tiger goals.

Grady Hauswirth scored the eventual game-winner (photo by Jim Lindquist)

"We made two mistakes and they turned into goals for them," Revels said. "That's an area where we need to improve. We were skating by loose pucks. We have the skills and the talent. We need to play smarter hockey all of the time."

The second period was a repeat of the first with the Tigers managing 15 more shots on goal but only one score, a long distance laser by Grady Hauswirth from the left circle.

The invisible shield on the Chaska net disappeared in the third period as the home team struck for three scores in the first 4:02. Tyler Jette opened the spree with a power play score and Novak and Jack Erickson followed with even-strength goals. 

Alex Aubrecht added an exclamation point to the victory with a goal with six minutes remaining.

"Our depth is one of our strengths," Revels said. "I think we wore them (Chaska) down a little in the third period."

Balance also played a big role for the winners. Novak had a four-point night with two goals and a pair of assists but 10 other Tigers scored at least a point.

Farmington outshot Chaska by a dominating 52-15 for the night. Tiger netminder Nick Schoening recorded 13 saves to run his season record to 4-1.

Revels said the remainder of the conference schedule is loaded with challenges.

"We could win out or anyone of the teams cold beat us on a given night," he said. "The big thing we need to do is to dictate the pace of the game and keep creating opportunities for ourselves.

"The good teams don't worry about who the other team is or how they play. They just go out and play their game. We've come a long way toward being that kind of team but we're not there yet."

Next up for the Tigers is a Thursday night conference home game with Shakopee at Schmitz-Maki Arena.