East boys hockey blanks Anoka

Kyle Lutzka scored a pair of goals, Al McLean picked up two assists, and goaltender Matt Cooper stopped seven shots as Duluth East shut out Anoka 5-0 in a high school boys hockey game at the Heritage Center on Monday night.

The Greyhounds (5-0-1) opened the scoring at 1:34 of the first period and scored three goals in the second, including one short-handed tally and another on the power play.

“We’re probably where we want to be in certain areas, but we have a ways to go in others,” East coach Mike Randolph said. “We need to step up the power play a little bit. Our penalty kill has been excellent.”

Lutzka, a left wing on the Greyhounds’ third line with Zac Schendel and center Brent Olson, scored the fifth and final goal at 2:20 of the third period.

“He’s a very good player around the net, and that line; I’m finding out that we’re deeper than most teams,” Randolph said. “It’s really nice to see that. Line depth up front has been the difference in some of these games.”

Minnesota Duluth recruit Max Tardy had a goal and one assist. Cooper wasn’t tested often Monday, but made some key stops.

“He had a couple really dandy saves. He has really matured into a steady goaltender,” Randolph said. “He has learned to play in these kind of games, where he hasn’t gotten shots for a while. He has earned every bit of his shutouts and goals-against [average].”

Matt Pinewski made 29 saves for the Tornadoes (1-6).

East, ranked third in Class AA, plays at Moorhead at 7:30 p.m. today.

Tags: duluth east high school, sports, preps, hockey, anoka, greyhounds