For over 44 minutes, the scoreboard showed goose-eggs for both visiting Point-Rapids and host Lakeland at the Lakeland Ice Arena south of Minocqua on a relatively balmy last Monday in January.

The guests had fired 32 shots at T-Bird senior goalie Tori Parus, with no success in getting one past her. The home squad had similar luck on the other end, as sophomore Emily Bubla had turned aside 11 pucks propelled her way.

Finally, Sarah Peplinski was able to punch home a rebound to give the Red Panthers a hard-fought 1-0 victory over scrappy Lakeland in Great Northern Conference play.

The Red Panthers outshot Lakeland 8-2 in the scoreless first period.

The pace picked up in the middle stanza as Lakeland had two power play chances but failed to cash in. Once again, the guests held the shot edge, 11-7.

In the third, the Red Panthers saw two 'man-advantages' of their own go to waste as they were turned aside by Parus and a stubborn T-Bird penalty kill.

With just over six minutes to play, the Red Panthers swarmed the crease, only to see the Lakeland netminder swat two shots away before Peplinski managed to stick one in the net at 10:39. Rachel Metz got a helper on the play.

The Red Panthers had another power play opportunity late in the period but were unable to convert. With just over three minutes left, the T-Birds missed a power play scoring chance and were not able to tie the contest.

The Red Panthers' Kiana Coombs got called for body checking with 32 seconds left and Parus came off for a 6-on-4 power play, but the clock ticked to zero with the puck harmlessly at center ice and the Red Panthers breathing a sigh of relief with a 1-0 margin.

Shots were 19-3 in the period in favor of Point-Rapids.

Bubla stopped 12 shots for her second shutout of the year, while Parus had three times as much work, saving 37 shots on her end.

The Red Panthers improve to 8-10-2 (7-3-1 GNC) and will travel to Medford Friday evening.

Lakeland drops to 5-9-1 (3-6-1 GNC) and host the Northern Edge on Friday.