After going on a three-game losing skid, the Albert Lea girls’ hockey team got back on the right track Tuesday night with a win against Mankato East.

The Tigers jumped out to a three-goal lead in the first period and never looked back, winning 6-1.

Ten minutes into the first period the Tigers scored their first goal of the game. The goal came unassisted from senior Laynee Behrends.

Not even two minutes later, junior Josie Venem recorded Albert Lea’s second goal. Behrends was in on the assist.

Venem scored again one and a half minutes later to make the score 3-0. Her second goal was unassisted.

The Tigers recorded 17 shots on goal in the first, compared to seven from the Cougars.

The second period was uneventful for both teams until late in the period, when junior Jaiden Venem scored a goal assisted by senior Katelyn Steven. The goal was the only major event in the period.

The Cougars outshot the Tigers in the second period, 8-7. However, only the Tigers managed a score.

Already with a 4-0 lead heading into the third and final period, the Tigers kept their foot on the gas. Five minutes into the period, senior Mia Fjelsta found the back of the net with an unassited goal to make it a 5-0 game. Junior Alli Dulitz scored five minutes later, again unassisted.

Albert Lea was 20 seconds from a shutout until Mankato East finally scored its first goal of the game, but it was far too late to make the comeback.

Overall the Tigers outshot the Cougars 34-26.

The Tigers move to 5-6 on the season, eclipsing their win total from last year just 11 games into the season.

They will be back on the ice Thursday night when they travel to Rochester to take on the Century Lions.