Rochester John Marshall got off to a hot start, but the Rockets couldn't hold off a sizzling Albert Lea offensive attack.
JM dropped its Big Nine Conference boys hockey opener, 7-4, to Albert Lea at the Rochester Recreation Center on Tuesday.
The Rockets (2-2-0 overall, 0-1-0 Big Nine) led 3-1 late in the first period on goals by sophomore Nick Paulson and seniors Zach Johnson and Anthony Johnson.
But the Tigers seized momentum when they were awarded a penalty shot with 1:01 to go in the first. Senior Eric Carlson capitalized on the opportunity, cutting JM's lead to 3-2 after one.
"That kind of deflated the boys a little bit," JM co-head coach Jared Skovbroten said. "It's a tough loss, but we have to get back at it and be ready for Thursday."
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Albert Lea (3-0-0, 1-0-0) scored the next three goals — two in the second period and one early in the third, by Carlson — to take the lead for good.
Senior defenseman Tom Foley scored at the 4:29 mark of the third period to cut Albert Lea's lead to 5-4, but Tigers forward Levi Hacker scored on a power play at the 10:13 mark, then added an empty net goal with just more than two minutes remaining.
The victory kept the Tigers unbeaten and gave coach Roy Nystrom his 617th career victory. With the win, Nystrom passed legendary Edina coach Willard Ikola for third on the national all-time boys hockey coaching wins list.
JM returns to action Thursday at the Rec Center against Rochester Mayo.
