By Ben Pherson

Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN 

The Rochester Ice Hawks found themselves in the penalty box too often in Friday's showdown against the league-leading Granite City Lumberjacks.

Eventually, those penalties proved costly.

The Lumberjacks trailed 1-0 heading into the final frame, but they scored a pair of power-play tallies to earn a 2-1 victory over the Ice Hawks on Friday at the Rochester Recreation Center.

Granite City improved to 14-4 to remain atop the Minnesota Junior Hockey League.

The good news for the Ice Hawks, who dropped to 9-4, is that they'll get another crack at the Lumberjacks tonight, again at home at 7:05 p.m.

"I didn't necessarily think penalties cost us the game, but they didn't help," Ice Hawks coach Nick Fatis said. "We maybe had three against us in the third. But they were big."

The Ice Hawks got off to a great start when second-year forward Tyler Groth scored at the 9:36 mark of the first period.

The Ice Hawks held that 1-0 lead until the end of the first, despite being outshot 12-10.

The second period was fairly even, too, with the Ice Hawks outshooting Granite City 12-10. Neither team found the back of the net, and the Ice Hawks clung to their 1-0 lead.

Just three minutes into the third, the Lumberjacks netted their first power-play goal. They got the go-ahead tally with one minute remaining.

"We had a lot more scoring opportunities than they did, but we didn't finish," Fatis said. "Pucks were bouncing around, and we didn't outmuscle guys around the net. We should have been stronger around the net. But I'm definitely looking forward to playing them again (tonight)."

Simon Eriksson was in net for the Ice Hawks. Eriksson was solid, Fatis said, and he recorded 29 saves on 31 shots. The Ice Hawks finished with a 37-31 edge in shots on goal.

The game was played as part of Military Appreciation Weekend. All former and current members of the military were admitted to the game free. Military members will be admitted to tonight's game free, too.

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