The Prior Lake boys hockey team continues to struggle to find the back of the net.
The Lakers have scored just eight goals in their last six games, including a 3-1 home loss to No. 2-ranked Minnetonka Jan. 31 in a battle of Section 2AA foes.
Prior Lake (8-10-1 overall) is 1-4-1 in its last six games. The team is back on the ice Feb. 5 at home versus Burnsville in South Suburban Conference action at 7 p.m.
The Lakers stay at home Feb. 7 to take on Holy Family (11-8-1) at 7 p.m. That game will likely decide the No. 4 seed in Section 2AA. And the loser will almost certainly be the No. 5 seed.
So the game is like a preview of the section quarterfinals. The winner of the Feb. 7 game will be at home in the first round of the playoffs.
Minnetonka (18-1-2), No. 8 Eden Prairie (11-6-2) and Chaska (13-7) look to be the top-three seeds in Section 2AA. Shakopee (6-10-2), New Prague (7-12-1) and Chanhassen (5-11-3) are also in the field.
Section quarterfinal play starts Feb. 21. The semifinals are Feb. 23 at Braemar Ice Arena in Edina at 3 and 7 p.m. The title game is Feb. 27 at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis at 6 p.m.
In the loss to Minnetonka, the Lakers got on the board with a goal at the 8:05 mark of the third period. Senior Charlie Kashmark scored with senior Jackson Jutting getting the assist. Prior Lake was down 2-0 after the first period and 3-0 after two frames.
For Kashmark, it was his team-leading 13th goal of the season. It was Juttting's team-best 20th assist.
Senior Cade Kujawski made the start in goal for the Lakes and finished with 24 saves.