DEVILS LAKE — The Firebirds boys’ hockey team had hit a midseason slump.
Mired in a six-game losing streak, they were 10 minutes away from falling at home to West Fargo.
“Just stay positive. Never get negative,” said Braxton Boline, one of the team’s senior captains. “Just work together, and we’ll get through it eventually.”
Carson Hogness — recently back from a shoulder injury — tied it up with 9:40 on the clock. After West Fargo coach Parker Metz got ejected from the game for jawing with the officials, Devils Lake had a power play to work with.
Boline scored the eventual game-winning goal.
“It felt great,” Boline said. “I’ve had a little bit of success this year, and it helps. The confidence is at a high level, and it was good to win it.”
Devils Lake was tied 1-1 after one period and 2-2 after two. But the Firebirds (8-8, 5-7) won 4-3 over the West Fargo Packers (2-14, 1-12) on Tuesday — ending Devils Lake’s losing streak at six while extending West Fargo’s to nine.
“Finally getting the monkey off the back is huge,” Firebirds head coach Landyn Swenson said.
Devils Lake came out controlling the puck. The Firebirds had more early shots on goal — including one off of Weston Stromme’s stick that scooted into the net just 19 seconds into the game. Thomas Leevers had the assist.
Devils Lake grabbed a sudden 1-0 lead.
But the Firebirds didn’t keep that energy through the whole first period. West Fargo settled in and ended up outshooting Devils Lake in the period, 13-12. The Packers had the edge on the night, too, with 38 shots on goal compared to Devils Lake’s 32.
“They’re a very, very well-coached team,” Swenson said. “They’re going to be in the right spots at the right times, and put themselves in an opportunity to win. They work hard.”
West Fargo scored with 12:32 left in the first period to tie it at 1-1. Ian Skari got one past Matt Graue in the corner of the net.
The Packers missed a couple of key scoring opportunities late in the first period, including a rebound with 20 seconds left.
There was only one power play in the period — in Devils Lake’s favor, but nothing came of it.
With 12:57 left in the second period, Stromme scored on a breakaway off of a turnover. The Firebirds’ leader in goals and assists added his second goal of the game and 13th of the season.
Stromme is climbing up the Devils Lake all-time points leaderboard in just his second season on varsity.
“His work ethic’s right there with anybody else,” Swenson said. “He puts in the work in the offseason. He loves hockey and loves trying to make his teammates better every day in practice and games, whatever it is.”
Hogness had an assist as the Firebirds took the lead back, 2-1.
Devils Lake went to the penalty box for the first time all night with 8:16 left in the second period. It was a hooking call on Jackson Schumacher.
Skari scored his second goal of the game just 12 seconds later. It was his team-leading ninth for West Fargo.
Skari nearly scored again while the Packers were shorthanded. Devils Lake wasted a power play in the second period, then another in the third.
With 13:48 left to play, Ashton Wigestrand scored just his second goal all season for West Fargo. And it looked like the house might come crashing down for Devils Lake. The Firebirds trailed, 3-2.
But Devils Lake was persistent. Hogness’s goal — tying the game for the third time — came amidst a cluster at the net, with assists from Nash Riggin and Schumacher.
It was Hogness’s third goal of the season. His two points Tuesday night gave him six on the year.
“We had a couple guys come back today that helped a lot,” Swenson said. “As you see in Carson Hogness, he put one in the back of the net and got an assist. Those guys are key players for us.”
The events of the night progressed rapidly. It was less than a minute later before Coach Metz had his bunch all riled up, and he retreated to the rafters after getting his money’s worth with the officials. It was about another minute later that Boline had his moment.
Boline smacked a long-range shot. He said he didn’t expect it to go in.
“I was really just looking for a tip, and hope for the best,” Boline said.
Schumacher and Riggin, once again, had assists.
Boline now has eight goals, tied for the second-most on the team. He’s second on the team in points with 19.
“As a leader, coming in, big-time game — a game we need a win in order to put us in the higher seed; he’s been doing it all year,” Swenson said. “He did it last year against Grand Forks Central in that 2-1 win. He’s just a big-time player and came up big for us.”
Boline helped put to rest a losing streak that had gone back to Jan. 8. The Firebirds won their first game since Jan. 5.
“It was a long six games, especially losing close ones,” Boline said. “But it feels good to get back on it.”
Graue saved 35 of 38 shots for the Firebirds (92.1%).
The win moved Devils Lake from sixth to fifth place in the East Region.
The Firebirds travel to play first-place Grand Forks Red River on Thursday. Then they’ll host third-place West Fargo Sheyenne in a rescheduled game at home on Friday.
When they return to the ice, they will no longer be looking to end a long losing skid.
“The morale seemed to be down, obviously, when you’re losing games,” Swenson said. “But when you get back in the win column, it gets up, and the work ethic increases a little bit, and you come ready to go at practice, wanting to continue to get back to that winning way.”
Added Boline, Tuesday’s hero: “I think now, it’ll be a little better attitudes everywhere, and it’ll help for future games.”
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