Sarah Peplinski scored a goal and added a playmaker as the Point-Rapids Red Panthers skated past the Medford Raiders 6-1 Friday evening at the Simek Rec Center in Medford.

The Raiders were unable to take advantage of 42 seconds worth of 5-on-3 power play action early in the opening period, but they did score with just three seconds left on the man advantage. Polly Coyer grabbed a loose puck in the low slot and beat Red Panthers goalie Emily Bubla on the glove side to take a 1-0 lead at the 8:33 mark. Holly Dettmering earned an assist on the play.

For most of the rest of the period the play took place in the Medford d-zone, with the guests holding a 10-1 shot edge through the first 14 minutes of play. Just when it looked like Medford goalie Tori Walsh was invincible, the Red Panthers tallied to tie the game.

Brianne Huettner found the five-hole from the slot area to knot the contest at one at the 14:17 mark on the unassisted goal.

The Red Panthers went on a power play with 1:37 remaining in the first, and cashed in with just 34 seconds left when Peplinski's shot from the left point snuck between Walsh's right skate and the post to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. The period ended with Point-Rapids holding a 13-1 shot advantage.

Senior captain Makayla Lee gave the Red Panthers a 3-1 lead at 2:54 of the second with a goal scorer's goal. She grabbed a pass at the blue line and snuck into the high slot before rifling a shot that beat Walsh on the blocker side, with assists to Peplinski and Amanda Milanowski. 

Midway through the period, two Red Panthers penalties gave Medford another 5-on-3 chance, but the visitors held tough for 30 seconds and then killed both penalties. On the evening, Point-Rapids was three of five on the power play, while the hosts converted one of six opportunities.

A couple minutes later came a goal that left players and fans alike scratching their heads.

Walsh had seemingly covered the puck just before it crossed the goal line, but one of the officials had an eye on the loose biscuit. Rachel Metz saw it sitting free, skated around the net and jammed it home in a slow-developing play that took at least ten seconds.

"They didn't blow the whistle so I just pushed the puck in," said Metz with a smile.

The period ended with a 4-1 lead for Point-Rapids, and they also outshot the home team by a count of 14-7 in the stanza.

Continuing on a power play that started late in the second, the Red Panthers scored their third man-advantage goal just 38 seconds into the third.

Lee gathered up the loose puck deep in her d-zone and fed the puck ahead to the other senior captain, Nicole Hassig. She skated across the blue line with a burst of speed and ripped a shot that snuck just inside the right post and glanced off the goalie to make it 5-1. Milanowski earned her second helper on the play.

Metz scored the final goal of the game when she punched in a rebound at the 7:07 mark with assists to Peplinski and Rachel 'R-Mac' McNamara. 

The balance of the game became quite physical, with bodies banging each other and sticks flying. Three penalties were called but no blood was shed as the final seconds ticked off the board for a road team victory. Once again, the Red Panthers led in the shot department, 8-3.

Walsh did an outstanding job for Medford in net, finishing with 29 saves. Bubla earned the win while stopping 10 of 11 shots for Point-Rapids.

The Red Panthers improved to 5-8 (4-0 and a share of the GNC lead), while the Raiders dropped to 3-6 (2-2 GNC).

The Red Panthers will host GNC co-leader Northland Pines Monday night, while Medford will travel to Antigo to take on the Northern Edge the same evening.