BRAINERD -- The Central Lakes Conference leaders controlled the puck and the scoring Tuesday as Willmar fell to the Brainerd Warriors 8-1.
Brainerd (11-0 in the CLC) outshot the visitors 47-13. Jeff Reed, the Willmar goalie, rejected 39 shots as Brainerd pressed the puck in the Willmar zone for long stretches at a time.
Willmar used up much of its energy trying to get the puck out of its own zone and had enough firepower for just 13 shots on the Brainerd net.
Willmar's only score came in the 13th minute of the first period when Tyler Wahl picked off the puck on a Warriors' power-play and scored a short-handed goal on Brainerd netminder Nick Whichello.
Willmar stayed within two scores until the final minute of the second period when Ryan Peltoma scored at 16:35 for a 4-1 lead. Carl Sneep, who will play for Boston College next season, made if 5-1 in the first minute of the third frame.
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Brainerd 8, Willmar 1
Willmar (1-9, 5-12) 1 0 0 -- 1
Brainerd (11-0, 12-4-2) 2 2 4 -- 8
FIRST PERIOD - Brd: Jared Hoppe (Drew Olson, Jake Johnson, 7:10, pp ... Brd: Tyler Swoboda (unassisted) 9:42 ... Wil: Tyler Wahl (unassisted) 12:14, shorthanded
SECOND PERIOD - Brd: Jack Freeman (Ryan Peltoma, Morgan Impola) 3:00 ... Brd: Peltoma (Olli Lahdesmaki) 16:35
THIRD PERIOD - Brd: Carl Sneep (Johnson, Impola) :25 ... Brd: Impola (unassisted) 7:12 ... Brd: Johnson (Freeman, Impola) 7:37 ... Brd: Mike Baker (Pete Larson, Lahdesmaki) 9:00
Goalie saves - Willmar: Jeff Reed 12-15-12-39; Brainerd: Nick Whichello 5-3-4-12
NEXT -- Willmar: Thursday, home vs. Morris/Benson Area, 7 p.m.
