Hermantown scored four times in the second period and pulled away for a 6-2 nonconference victory over Mahtomedi on Saturday at NorthStar Ford Arena in Hermantown.
The Class 1A top-ranked Hawks improved to 15-2-3 overall as they head to the Section 7A playoffs, with five regular-season games remaining.
Hermantown opened the scoring 1:28 into the game when Kole Lendzyk converted a power-play opportunity for his 13th goal of the season.
Ford Skytta scored 26 seconds into the second period to give Hermantown a 2-1 lead, and after Mahtomedi briefly tied the game again at 2-2, the Hawks went on a scoring run.
Lendzyk scored his second goal of the game at 5:29 of the period, followed by Beau Christy at 15:27. Freshman Nikolai Zhukov added another goal 47 seconds later, and Hermantown carried a 5-2 lead into the third period.
Christy closed the scoring at 8:26 of the third period with his second goal of the night.
Hawks goaltender Bryce Francisco finished with 35 saves on 37 shots. The senior has played in 20 games this season and owns a 15-2-3 record, a 2.48 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Hermantown has allowed 51 goals through 20 games and has held opponents to two goals or fewer 11 times.
Micklain Martalock leads the Hawks offensively with 30 points (19 goals, 11 assists) and leads the team in goals. Christy has 29 points (17 goals, 12 assists) in 20 games. Lendzyk has 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists), while Paxson Madill has produced 20 points (six goals, 14 assists), including three assists in Saturday’s win.
Depth scoring has been a consistent strength for Hermantown. Skytta has 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists), Bode Madill has 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) and the Hawks have five skaters with at least 20 points. Fourteen different players have scored goals this season.
Defensively, Hermantown continues to limit second chances in front of Francisco, allowing just over 25 shots per game. The Hawks have been outscored only once in the third period over their last seven games.
Hermantown will close the regular season with a demanding stretch against Class 2A opponents. The Hawks travel to East Grand Forks Green Wave on Friday at East Grand Forks Civic Center, visit Moorhead Spuds on Saturday at Moorhead Sports Center, play at Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights on Feb. 6, host Academy of Holy Angels Stars on Feb. 7, and travel to Grand Rapids Thunderhawks on Feb. 10.
Hermantown is tracking toward the No. 1 seed in Class 1A Section 7 ahead of defending sectional champion Hibbing/Chisholm.