Benilde-St. Margaret's Boys' Hockey

After taking a one-goal lead in a lackluster first-period, Benilde-St. Margaret's exploded for five second-period goals, three of which came from Spencer Naas, as the fourth-ranked Red Knights handed 14th-ranked Elk River a 9-1 defeat.

The lone goal of the first period came when Evan Fleming intercepted an Elk River clearing attempt and deposited the puck in the back of the net five minutes, 41 seconds into the contest.

Despite a 13-4 advantage in shots on goal in the opening period, that goal was all the Red Knights would get in the opening frame but it took just 47 seconds into the second period for Naas to strike for the first of his three goals and, less than three minutes later, he made it a 3-0 score and the hosts were well on their way to victory.

Grant Besse, who would also turn in a hat trick during a five-point night, made it 4-0 when he raced into the Elks' zone after taking a Ben Newhouse pass before bulging the twice.

Naas finished his hat trick with 5:45 to play in the second period and Dan Labosky's short-handed tally, less than two minutes later, made the score 6-0.

Elk River finally got on the scoreboard when Tim Sanford scored on the power play with 1:03 remaining in the second period, giving him a goal in each of the Elks' games against BSM this season.

Besse then opened the final period by putting the game into running time just 1:23 into the stanza and completed his hat trick with his 33rd goal of the season with 6:51 gone in the final frame.

Alec Baer scored with 2:38 to play, ending an eight-game goal-scoring drought, to finish the Red Knights' 13th win of the season.

Andrew Sprang earned the victory as he stopped 14 of 15 shots before giving way to Paul Lundberg with 11:49 to play in the game. Lundberg stopped all five shots he faced as BSM finished with a 34-20 advantage in shots on goal.

Next up for the Red Knights is a 2 p.m. matinee, Saturday, at Class A seventh-ranked Rochester Lourdes.