With one of the most talented goaltenders in the Big Nine in senior Matt Tubbs, Albert Lea High School boys’ hockey coach Roy Nystrom didn’t expect to be using a freshman in the net this season.

A bout with mononucleosis changed all that.

Tubbs was diagnosed with mono and will be sidelined for an indefinite period, leaving the goaltending duties up to freshman Evan Long in Tuesday’s Big Nine game against Faribault.

Long came through, stopping all but one shot he faced as the Tigers won 4-1 at the City Arena.

&uot;He stepped up and played well, and it was nice to see,&uot; said Nystrom, whose team improved its record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Nine.

Long admitted he was a little nervous for his first varsity start.

&uot;I got over it pretty quick,&uot; said Long. &uot;It felt pretty good. All I can say is, I hope Tubbs gets better very soon.&uot;

The Tigers got on the board very quickly, scoring just 33 seconds into the game on a penalty shot by Jon Breuer. The first period ended 1-0 as Albert Lea outshot Faribault 8-4.

The Tigers made it 3-0 in the second. Wade Westland scored at 4:21, assisted by Adam Boelter, and Travis McKinney got a goal at 11:13 on assists from Egan Mattson and Boelter.

Faribault’s lone goal came at 12:17 of the second.

The Tigers added an insurance goal at 10:56 of the third. Mattson scored it, Boelter assisted.

Albert Lea outshot Faribault 23-12.

Nystrom’s biggest concern was penalties. The Tigers took seven to Faribault’s three.

The Tigers travel to Rochester John Marshall Thursday in a battle of Big Nine unbeatens.