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The Pirates didn't play their best against Park Rapids Tuesday evening but still pulled out a victory with a late goal by Seth Heppner in the third period for the 3-2 win. Crookston is now 10-11-2 on the season and, with the win over section rival Park Rapids, 5-4-1 in Section 8A play.
"We didn't play very well," Pirate head coach Jon Bittner said plain and simple. "Things weren't very crisp. Park worked hard, they never gave up. They were around, around, around all night long. Skill level for one, finishing off for two. We didn't seem inspired or enthusiastic about what we were doing out there. We were playing like it was open hockey. There is a difference in competitive hockey."
With just two games left in the regular season, all the Pirates need to get enthusiastic or their postseason will be short.
"We have to be unselfish," coach Bittner said. "We need to play with a greater purpose. Heppner's line has been on fire. They're playing well, getting scoring opportunities. Dylan Klatt had a great game, Seth's been scoring and Reggie has been putting puck in the net too."
Park Rapids got on the board first when Ian Johnson recorded a goal as Pirate goalie Kollin Erdman misplayed a puck and it went in the net.
Coach Bittner noted that Erdman recovered after that and played a solid game.
Connor Morgan tied the game up with about two and a half minutes left in the first period on assists from Ryan Bittner and Ryan Edevold.
The Pirates took a 2-1 lead with about three and half minutes left in the second period with a goal by Dylan Klatt from Mark Bittner and Ryan Bittner.
In the third, Panther Sam Coborn tied the game up about five minutes in, but about five minutes later, the Heppner-Klatt-Regeimbal line produced again as Heppner took a pass from Klatt and buried it with about seven minutes remaining.
Crookston would hang on for the section victory.
Erdman finished the game with 19 saves, while Scott Smith recorded 31 saves in net for the Panthers.
The Pirates close out the regular season with a game against Lake of the Woods on the road Friday and Red Lake Falls at home Tuesday, Feb. 15.
The Pirates didn't play their best against Park Rapids Tuesday evening but still pulled out a victory with a late goal by Seth Heppner in the third period for the 3-2 win. Crookston is now 10-11-2 on the season and, with the win over section rival Park Rapids, 5-4-1 in Section 8A play.
"We didn't play very well," Pirate head coach Jon Bittner said plain and simple. "Things weren't very crisp. Park worked hard, they never gave up. They were around, around, around all night long. Skill level for one, finishing off for two. We didn't seem inspired or enthusiastic about what we were doing out there. We were playing like it was open hockey. There is a difference in competitive hockey."
With just two games left in the regular season, all the Pirates need to get enthusiastic or their postseason will be short.
"We have to be unselfish," coach Bittner said. "We need to play with a greater purpose. Heppner's line has been on fire. They're playing well, getting scoring opportunities. Dylan Klatt had a great game, Seth's been scoring and Reggie has been putting puck in the net too."
Park Rapids got on the board first when Ian Johnson recorded a goal as Pirate goalie Kollin Erdman misplayed a puck and it went in the net.
Coach Bittner noted that Erdman recovered after that and played a solid game.
Connor Morgan tied the game up with about two and a half minutes left in the first period on assists from Ryan Bittner and Ryan Edevold.
The Pirates took a 2-1 lead with about three and half minutes left in the second period with a goal by Dylan Klatt from Mark Bittner and Ryan Bittner.
In the third, Panther Sam Coborn tied the game up about five minutes in, but about five minutes later, the Heppner-Klatt-Regeimbal line produced again as Heppner took a pass from Klatt and buried it with about seven minutes remaining.
Crookston would hang on for the section victory.
Erdman finished the game with 19 saves, while Scott Smith recorded 31 saves in net for the Panthers.
The Pirates close out the regular season with a game against Lake of the Woods on the road Friday and Red Lake Falls at home Tuesday, Feb. 15.
