Woodbury boys hockey: Royals losing streak hits four games

After a strong start to the season, the Royals have skidded out with just one game left on the calendar.

Woodbury’s latest losing streak extended to four last week with a 9-1 loss Thursday, Feb. 9, to Mounds View and a 2-1 loss Saturday to Roseville.

Woodbury now holds outright possession of last place in the Suburban East Conference with its 2-11-4 record. The Royals are 7-13-4 overall after kicking off the season 4-0-1.

Woodbury has eight conference points, putting the school behind District 833 rivals East Ridge (ninth place) and Park (eighth place).

Goals have come at a premium for Woodbury in February.

After trouncing St. Michael-Albertville Jan. 28, the Royals have mustered no more than one goal per game in the team’s following four match-ups.

The St. Michael-Albertville game also represents Woodbury’s last win.

In Woodbury’s most recent game – against Roseville, the second-place team in the SEC – the Royals found themselves down 1-0 heading into the third period.

But a quick third-period goal by senior Tanner Antolak (unassisted) drew the game to a tie. The Raiders scored the game winner at 8:07 in the game.

Woodbury out-shot Roseville 34-32 in the game. Senior Josh Erickson took the loss in net for the Royals.

Neither team received a power play opportunity.

Things weren’t so competitive in the Mounds View game.

The Mustangs out-shot Woodbury 37-28 and recorded 25 game points, between their nine goals and 16 assists.

Junior forward Jordan Graham recorded the Royals’ only goal. He was assisted by teammates Ford Pendleton and Tyler Tuneberg.

Erickson stopped 23 of 30 shots for the Royals. Teammate Evan Broadbent stopped five of seven shots he faced in goal after entering the game in the third period.

Woodbury’s final regular season game is set for Thursday against Park at Bielenberg Ice Arena.

The Royals will be able to see how their agonizingly close goals-scored to- goals-allowed-ratio stacks up once Section 3AA competition heats up. Through last week, Woodbury had scored 2.73 goals per game and allowed an average of 3.18 goals.

Section play runs Feb. 21 through March 1.

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