Detroit Lakes advanced to the Minnesota Section 8A semifinals by overcoming two three-goal deficits, scoring with an extra attacker with 14 seconds left to force overtime and then winning in double overtime on a long shot from the red line.
The Lakers, however, ran out of playoff magic on Saturday.
Instead, Thief River Falls methodically beat Detroit Lakes 4-0 in the section semifinals at the East Grand Forks Civic Center.
The No. 1 seed Prowlers, 21-6, advance to the section championship on Thursday night in East Grand Forks against the winner of East Grand Forks Senior High and Warroad. Detroit Lakes, the No. 4 seed, ended the year with a 14-11-2 record.
"It's the section final, so we have to bring it all to the table," Thief River Falls senior Michael Johnson said.
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Against the Lakers, the Prowlers showcased their typical Johnson and Johnson attack, although the scoresheet featured more Michael Johnson than the school's all-time leading goal scorer, Ethan Johnson.
The unrelated Johnsons accounted for three goals and five points. Michael scored twice and had an assist, while Ethan had a goal and an assist.
"Michael can kind of be an afterthought in terms of Johnsons with the way Ethan has put the puck in the net," Prowlers coach Tim Bergland said. "It was good to see because Michael is usually the one making the play on the boards to set up Ethan."
Now, the Prowlers turn their attention to the section finals, where Thief River Falls lost in overtime to East Grand Forks in last year's section title. The Prowlers haven't been to the state tournament since winning back-to-back titles in 2011-12.
"We know getting to the finals was one of our goals, and obviously winning it is the next one," Bergland said.
The Prowlers dominated possession, outshooting the Lakers 39-11, including a 14-1 edge in the third period. Detroit Lakes goalie Austin Fritz made 35 saves, while TRF's Kade Nelson had 11 stops.
"I think we had a slow start, but they're a good team," Detroit Lakes coach Todd Dwyer said. "They're fast, and they can transition. They held us to just about 10 shots, so they were pretty good defensively, too."
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