Adversity can reveal true character.

The Albert Lea Thunder revealed some of their true character Saturday in a 6-1 thumping of the Owatonna Express at the Four Seasons Centre in Owatonna.

With the franchise facing possible termination the team remained resilient and delivered its best performance of the season in knocking off the Express.

“We’ve been having a lot of adversity with our team and it just showed tonight that we have some warriors on our team,” said Thunder forward Alex Niestrom, who scored two third period goals and assisted on a third.

Albert Lea (5-17-2) was playing its first game since the Thunder lost 6-2 to Owatonna in Albert Lea and the time off certainly played a role in the victory. A healthy Ben Waalkens turned away 39 shots from the Express in picking up his second victory of the season in goal for the Thunder. Waalkens, who is the only goaltender available to play for the Thunder because their roster remains frozen, played in his fourth consecutive game and finally felt 100 percent after playing through a bad hip and a cold in the previous three games.

“The last two weekends it’s just been frustrating because it feels like I’m not playing good,” Waalkens said. “Tonight, I just felt great because I wasn’t sick and I wasn’t hurt. When you’ve been playing hurt or sick and then you’re back to 100 percent it’s a great feeling, you feel unstoppable almost.”

Waalkens nearly was unstoppable, he allowed just a second-period goal to Express defenseman Jake Sloat, which temporarily made the game 2-1.

“That’s the best I’ve seen Ben play,” Niestrom said. “We wouldn’t have even been close in this game … it would have been a blowout if Benny didn’t play the way he did. Forty shots, one goal as a goalie is ridiculous. He’s another one of those warriors I’ve been talking about on our team. If he’s sick, if he’s got something with his hip, whatever it is, he’s answered the call.”

The rest of the team answered the call and banded together and played disciplined, focus hockey through three periods to win for the franchise’s first victory at Four Seasons Centre.

“Their focus on the bench and in the locker room was better than I’ve seen it ever,” said head coach Chuck Linkenheld. “They were out to prove something tonight.”

After the deadline for the team’s ownership to come up with nearly $400,000 to the North American Hockey League to avoid termination passed the Thunder played like a desperate team.

Albert Lea started strong in the first period and Chris Cass got the team on the board with a wraparound goal. Brad Phenow put a slapshot past Owatonna goalie Mike Shibrowski from just inside the blue line to make it a 2-0 game.

“It’s almost like playoffs because it feels like there’s no tomorrow,” Waalkens said. “Then you’re just playing because you don’t know if the game’s going to be your last one or if you’re going to have a full season or not, so you want to play your best. If this ended up being my last game and I didn’t play good, I would never forget about it in a bad way. Now I’m not going to forget about it in a positive way.”

Owatonna (14-7-1) was winners in six of its past eight games and worked the game back to 2-1 in the second period, but Matt Johnson’s first goal of the season, a shorthanded effort, made a two-goal lead for Albert Lea.

The Thunder ended a six-game losing streak and did so by staying out of the penalty box. The Express had just four power-play chances in the game and did not score.

“It was the most discipline that they’ve played and the most together I’ve seen them play,” Linkenheld said.

No more information about the team’s situation was known after the game and it’s likely one won’t come until Monday.

Albert Lea 6, Owatonna 1

Albert Lea 2 1 3 — 6

Owatonna 0 1 0 — 1

First Period—1, Albert Lea, Chris Cass 2 (Mark Ellis), 7:59. 2, Albert Lea, Brad Phenow 4 (unassisted), 18:09. Penalties—Cory Thorson, Owa (roughing), 3:19; Mike Kantor, Alb (charging), 3:19; Mark Ellis, Alb (roughing), 3:19; Pat Borer, Owa (roughing), 6:26; Danny Wood, Alb (roughing), 6:26; Jacob Sloat, Owa (interference), 11:54.

Second Period—3, Owatonna, Sloat 2 (Brian McGinty, Pat Borer), 16:12. 4, Albert Lea, Matt Johnson 1 (unassisted), 17:13 (sh.). Penalties—Derek Docken, Alb (high sticking), 5:45; Chris Darnell, Owa (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:19; Kantor, Alb (cross checking), 16:07.

Third Period—5, Albert Lea, Alex Niestrom 3 (Niko Kapetanovic), 10:50. 6, Albert Lea, Niestrom 4 (Kapetanovic), 13:09. 7, Albert Lea, Kapetanovic 8 (Niestrom, Wood), 17:51. Penalties—Dylan Porter, Owa (checking from behind), 8:45; Brandon Lubin, Alb (holding), 14:57.

Shots on Goal—Albert Lea 13-8-9—30. Owatonna 15-14-11—40.

Power-play opportunities—Albert Lea 0 of 3; Owatonna 0 of 4.

Goalies—Albert Lea, Ben Waalkens 2-8-0 (40 shots, 39 saves). Owatonna, Mike Shibrowski 13-3-1 (30 shots, 24 saves).

A—487. T—2:12.

Referee—Stephen Thomson. Linesmen—Nick Dornfeld, Mark Supina.