A year removed from a two-win season, the St. Louis Park boys hockey team has won a section playoff game.
The Orioles (18-5-3, No. 6 seed in Section 2A) rebounded from a slow start against Chaska (4-21, No. 11) and piled on three goals in the second period, turning a 1-0 Park lead into a 4-1 lead entering the final frame. Park tacked on two more goals in the third en route to a 6-2 win.
It was Park's second win over the Hawks this year, the first coming on Dec. 8 by a 8-0 margin.
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Alec Baer led the way on Tuesday, as the eighth-grade forward netted two goals and added three assists. Another youngster—freshman Josh Passolt—had two goals and two assists of his own. Steven Karl and Tyler Brodersen scored the other two Park goals. Senior Ryan Nichols stopped 23 of 25 shots on goal.
The Orioles will next face No. 3 seed Blake on Thursday at the Parade Ice Gardens in Minneapolis. A win there would advace Park to the section semifinals next Tuesday against either Delano or Wednesday's Minnehaha Academy/Waconia winner.
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