Kayla Wright scored two goals in the first period and Kayla Bjorge netted the game-winner shorthanded to help the Blue Devils avenge an early loss to the Morris-Benson Storm in Long Prairie on Dec. 11.
Alicia Gorka assisted on the first goal and Jackie Zaic assisted on the second as the Blue Devils took the 2-0 lead into intermission.
Morris-Benson cut into the lead 1:45 into the second period on Dani Schultz's goal.
The Storm had an opportunity to tie the game during a power-play early into the third period, but Bjorge scored shorthanded to send the Storm home with their first loss of the season in the 3-2 victory.
Blue Devil Coach Jim Conrad credited the defense and goal tending for the victory.
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"The girls played a great defensive game and really earned this one," Conrad said. "Our goalie came up big and [Wright] was in the right place at the right time."
The Storm pulled their goalie in the waning minutes of the contest and was able to tack one more score on the board on a Sam Falk goal at 15:14. The Blue Devil defense stood up to the assault.
Blue Devil netminder Kayla Guck kicked away 27 shots in the win.
Against rival Park Rapids Area in a hard fought game on Dec. 13, the Blue Devils skated away with their second victory of the week 3-0.
Zaic assisted on two goals and Guck picked up her second shutout of the season. She stopped 28 shots by the Panthers.
The Blue Devils got goals from Bjorge, Sam Schulz and Leah Dykhoff in the victory.
"This was a hard-fought, physical game," Conrad said. "The girls played a good clean game and really battled through it. We had some great offensive opportunities, and Jackie put up two nice assists."
The Blue Devils missed Zaic in Saturday's game against Brainerd.
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After drawing first blood on an Alicia Gorka goal and Zaic assist to go up 1-0 early against the Warriors, the Blue Devils lost their cool as Brainerd stormed back on a hat trick by Jess Bye.
Zaic received a five minute penalty and a game misconduct for fighting. She will miss the first game of the Schwan's Cup on Dec. 26.
"[Jackie] was taking on some hits and rough contact, but could have kept her cool in a situation that we couldn't afford to lose a player," Conrad noted.
Dykhoff's unassisted goal stopped the bleeding momentarily, but Bye picked up her fourth goal to start the third period as Brainerd finished off the Blue Devils 6-2.
Whitney Joyce and Nicole Godbout scored the other two Warrior goals as Brainerd peppered Guck with 51 shots. The Blue Devils managed just seven shots on goal in the loss.
"This was a tough one," Conrad said. "The girls played well but gave up a lot of shots. [Guck] stood tall with many great saves."
The Blue Devils (5-4) are idle this week. They will be participating in the Schwan's Cup Holiday Tournament in Blaine Dec. 26-28. Their first opponent in the Yellow Division is Madison (Wis.).
Morris-Benson at Blue Devils in Long Prairie on Dec. 11
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Blue Devils 3, Storm 2
Morris-Benson 0 1 1-2
Blue Devils 2 0 1-3
First Period
BD-Kayla Wright (Alicia Gorka) 12:16
BD-Wright (Jackie Zaic) 16:27
Second Period
MBA-Dani Schultz (Emily Rajewsky) 1:45
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Third Period
BD-Kayla Bjorge (unassisted) SHG 5:33
MBA-Sam Falk (Schultz) 15:14
Shots on Goal: BD 16; MBA 29
Goalies-Saves: BD-Kayla Guck 27; MBA-Brooke Falk 13
Blue Devils at Park Rapids on Dec. 13
Blue Devils 3, Panthers 0
Blue Devils 1 0 2-3
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Park Rapids Area 0 0 0-0
First Period
BD-Bjorge (Zaic) 16:19
Second Period
No Scoring
Third Period
BD-Sam Schultz (Zaic) 9:40
BD-Leah Dykhoff (unassisted) 0:26
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Shots on Goal: BD 27, PRA 28
Goalies-Saves: BD-Guck 28; PRA 24
Blue Devils at Brainerd on Dec. 14
Warriors 6, Blue Devils 2
Blue Devils 1 1 0-2
Brainerd 2 1 3-6
First Period
BD-Gorka (Zaic) 6:28
B-Jess Bye 15:25
B-Bye (Ellen Rauschel) PPG 15:35
Second Period
B-Bye (Elle Adams) 7:42
BD-Dykhoff (unassisted) 9:14
Third Period
B-Bye (Emily Wyman, Adams) 2:34
B-Whitney Joyce (Molly Peltoma, Molly Baker) 6:09
B-Nicole Godbout (Adams, Ashely Hanson) 14:40
Shots on Goal: BD 7; B-51
Goalies-Saves: BD-Guck 45; B-Ashlynn Windjue 5
