After two periods of action from the Marshfield Youth Ice Center, Chequamegon/Phillips and host Marshfield were knotted at one and it looked like the final period would have the makings of a 'barn-burner.'
It took the visitors just over five minutes to quash that notion as they scored three times to more or less put the game away and added another late goal to complete the 5-1 win Tuesday evening in Sectional 2 play-in competition in Marshfield.
The first period was scoreless and although the contest was marked by lots of physicality, the officials seemed content to 'let them play.' C/P held a 10-5 shot lead in the stanza.
The guests struck first just over three minutes in courtesy of Sam Lehman, who grabbed a pass in front of the net and buried the puck past Tigers goalie Brad Krueger. Thomas Roberts and Kevin Koski earned helpers on the score at 3:36.
Team SEaL (Screaming Eagles and Loggers) had a chance on a power play midway through but could not convert. With less than 30 seconds left in the period, the home squad would not fail on the man advantage.
Seven seconds after a C/P penalty, a shot by Jacob Draves from the top of the right circle either bounced or was deflected past C/P goalie Kristen Pechacek for the power play tally with 28 seconds left in the middle period. Andy Wittman and Brandon Nikolai earned assists on the tying score.
Shots were 9-3 in favor of the visitors.
Lehman scored his second goal to give C/P a 2-1 lead just 1:14 into the final period. He scooped a rebound off the leg pad of the goalie and fired it back in, with assists to Luke Heidenreich and Koski.
Just over two minutes later, Lehman notched his hattie with another rebound goal. Koski and Chad Schnautz earned assists on the play.
The score increased to 4-1 when Schnautz scored between the left goalie pad and the right post at the 5:19 mark, with an assist to Chanse Peth.
Team SEaL got its final goal and chased Krueger with just under six minutes remaining. Roberts and Schnautz were credited with assists on the play.
Austin Pickhard came in a played the final minutes for Marshfield, as the two senior goalies played their final games for MHS.
Shots in the period were 11-6 in favor of the guests.
Pechacek stopped 13 of 14 in the win for Chequamegon/Phillips (7-14-1), while Krueger (24) and Pickhard (1) combined for 25 saves for Marshfield, who will end its season with a mark of 4-18-1.
C/P will travel to Eau Claire Friday night to take on #1 seed and defending state champ Eau Claire Memorial. Game time is 7:30pm.