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Back-to-back shutouts extend Ely’s losing streak to five games
A shortage in firepower has led to a shortage of wins on the ice.
Ely’s high school hockey team has lost five straight games, but the streak has coincided with an extended scoring slump.
A 3-0 loss to visiting Bagley in a Jan. 3 contest at the Ely Arena was the Wolves’ second consecutive shutout defeat.
And since a 4-3 win at Wadena on Dec. 21, the Wolves have managed just four goals in five contests - all defeats.
The Wolves, who hope to snap out of their lull today in Siren, Wisc., have fallen to 3-9 on the season.
Ely and Bagley (6-6) were involved in a physical, rather evenly-matched affair at Babbitt’s Ron Castellano Arena.
Shots on goal were nearly even, with the Flyers managing a 28-26 edge, and both teams were whistled for six penalties during the contest.
Ely came up empty in its power play chances, while the Flyers used the man advantage to take a 1-0 lead early in the second frame as Wyatt Gerbracht scored with an assist from Logan Dillich.
The Wolves were unable to capitalize on two power-play chances in the second period and both teams filled the box in the final frame.
The Flyers’ Dakota Erickson got a key insurance goal midway through the third period and a backbreaker came with six minutes left, when Dillich took a feed from Gerbracht and scored a shorthanded goal that made it 3-0.
Winning goalie Kyle Johnson turned back all 26 shots he faced, including nine in the third, to finish with the shutout.
Senior netminder Ben Leeson wound up with 25 stops for the Wolves.
• Following today’s matchup in Wisconsin, the Wolves continue a busy stretch that includes six games in 12 days - starting with Tuesday’s section tilt at International Falls.
The stretch also includes home games with Lake of the Woods (Jan. 17), Wadena (Jan. 18) and Proctor (Jan. 21).
