The Albert Lea Thunder held North Iowa off the board in the first and second period, killing off one power play after another, but the Outlaws finally broke through in the third period as they skated to a 3-2 win at the City Arena Friday night.

The Thunder (2-21-3) had killed off six previous power plays, but the seventh proved one too many for Albert Lea to handle as North Iowa took a 1-0 lead 22 seconds into the third period.

The Thunder continued to play strong defensively until a five minute stretch in the third where the Outlaws (14-10-2) scored two goals to win the game.

Ryan Bohrer scored at 10:08 in the third to give North Iowa a 2-0 lead in front of a crowd of 356 people. The crowd was largely partisan with many Outlaw fans in attendance.

Albert Lea came back to halve the game when Ryan Johnson scored at 14:31, but the Outlaws got the game-winner from Kurt Weston at 15:24. Weston put a short-sided shot on goal that got past Thunder goalie Tom Lescovich.

Danny Wood scored for the Thunder with 54 seconds left to make the game 3-2.

North Iowa has now won five of its last six games.

Lescovich made 35 saves in the loss and Thomas Callaghan made 28 stops.

“You’ve got to give both goaltenders credit,” said Albert head coach Brad Zangs. “They did a great job.”

Albert Lea had a number of opportunities to cash in, but could not against Callaghan.

The Thunder had a 5-on-3 power play for 49 seconds and a power play for 1:11 that carried into the second period. Albert Lea failed to capitalize on the power play.

Zangs said the sequence was critical.

“It was huge, but you have to shoot the puck,” Zangs said. “We didn’t do that. They’re looking for that perfect pass.”

In the second period Albert Lea had two breakaway chances but couldn’t get a shot past Callaghan.

“When you get those scoring chances you have to bury them,” Zangs said. “That is the difference between a veteran team and a rookie team.”

The Outlaws outshot Albert Lea 38-30 and went 1-for-7 on the power play.

The Thunder finished 0-for-4 on the power play.

Albert Lea was without defenseman Robbie Vannelli as well Friday. Vannelli left the team Thursday to attend St. Thomas University. Mark Ellis once again moved from his forward position to defense to fill the void and Tommy Robaczewski made his first appearance since suffering a concussion.

The two teams met Saturday night at the City Arena.

North Iowa 3, Albert Lea 2

1st 2nd 3rd

North Iowa 0 0 3 — 3

Albert Lea 0 0 2 — 2

GOAL SCORING:

1st period— no scoring

2nd period — no scoring

3rd period: North Iowa — Brandon Brodhag (power play), (Jack Paul, Ryan

Peltoma) 0:21

North Iowa — Ryan Bohrer (Dustin Moser, Rob Johnson) 10:08

Albert Lea — Ryan Johnson (Niko Kapetanovic, B.J. McClellan) 14:31

North Iowa — Kurt Weston (Joe Harren, Ryan Peltoma) 15:24

Albert Lea — Danny Wood (Mark Ellis, Mitch Torrel) 19:06

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1st 2nd 3rd

North Iowa 10 16 12 — 38

Albert Lea 6 11 13 — 30

POWER PLAY CONVERSION: North Iowa 1-for-7, Albert Lea 0-for-4