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PREP BOYS HOCKEY: Marshall bounces back with 6-0 win over Windom Area

Photo by Jake Przytarski Members of the Marshall boys hockey team celebrate after scoring a goal during their game against Windom Area on Tuesday. The Tigers defeated the Eagles 6-0.

MARSHALL – After a pair of hard-fought losses to Hutchinson and New Ulm this past week, the Marshall boys hockey team returned to the win column on Tuesday with a dominant 6-0 shutout victory over Windom on its home ice.

The Tigers limited the Eagles to only 11 shots on goal in the game–a stat that coach Michael Weiss was especially pleased with after making it a focal point given their recent struggles in that area.

“We really talked about our own zone and we’ve been giving up a lot of shots lately so one of the keys was just to keep them off the board in the shot category and not make it so tough on Dom every night,” said Weiss. “We did a good job of doing that tonight.”

Windom was unable to record a single shot on goal in the first period as a result of Marshall’s relentless pressure on the forecheck that paved the way for a pair of goals. Landon Frost got the Tigers on the board just under six minutes in with his first goal of the season, assisted by Bryson Whyte.

In the final minute of play, Braxton Meyer buried his first of three goals in the game to extend Marshall’s lead to 2-0. Jackson Bladholm and goaltender Dominik Caspers picked up the assists.

Weiss lauded Meyer for the impact he’s had on the team with contributions made all over the ice.

“He’s been a pleasant surprise and it’s always nice when the young guys can come in and contribute,” said Weiss. “He’s done a great job of making plays on the breakout, not just scoring goals. He’s been good all over the ice.”

The Tigers were forced to kill off their first two penalties in the opening period and went on to kill six total in the game. With the six successful kills, Marshall has killed off 19 consecutive opposing power plays and is over 95% on the penalty kill for the season.

“We’ve had a lot of practice on it during games,” said Weiss. “We’ve just got a good group of killers that work hard and they jump on loose pucks and clear the zone.”

In the second period, Marshall showed off its ability to score on the penalty kill too. In an incredible solo effort, Whyte chased after a puck in Windom’s defensive zone, leveled a defender to jar the puck loose, then deposited the puck past the Eagles’ netminder for a short handed goal.

“He’s just relentless. If there’s a loose puck, he’s going to get it. If there’s a race to win down the ice he’s going to win it,” said Weiss. “On the goal he had to take two, three whacks at it but it finally went in for him.”

The tally by Whyte was one of three goals in the period for the Tigers as Meyer and Jaden Gannott each found the back of the net as well. Joe Archbold, Blake Kruse, Sean Nwaiga and Marco Bayer all recorded assists.

Late in the third period, Meyer completed the hat trick for his team-leading sixth goal of the season that put an exclamation mark on the Tigers’ 6-0 victory. Caspers finished the game with 11 saves for his third shutout of the season–eclipsing last year’s total of two shutouts in the 2018-2019 season.

Weiss appreciates the consistency that Caspers brings in net on a nightly basis.

“He’s always going to bring the same effort. He’s always going to be tough. He’s focused, he’s not going to give up an easy one,” said Weiss. “If you’re going to score on him, it’s going to be well-earned. He does a good job of being consistent.”

The Tigers (4-3) will be back on their home ice on Thursday for another Big South Conference matchup against Redwood Valley at 7 p.m. For Weiss, the key for success in their upcoming contest will be to continue to do the little things right.

“(The key will be to) just keep competing hard and do the little things right, like handling the puck and passing the puck. Just keep getting better at those little things,” said Weiss.

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