The Willmar Cardinals scored five goals in the second period to pull away from the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines and clinch a 9-2 win.

Hunter Schneider had two goals and three assists to lead Willmar. Schneider scored the first of his two goals at 15:16 into the first period to make the score 2-1 Willmar. Ryan Woltjer provided the assist. Schneider's next tally made the score 5-1 Willmar with 12:42 left in the second period. The Cardinals had taken the advantage when Wadena-Deer Creek's Jake Krause got sent off for unsportsmanlike conduct. Preston Peterson picked up the assist.

Willmar forced the Wolverines goalie Cory McManigle to work between the pipes, taking 50 shots.

Willmar also got points from Hunter Mottinger, who also racked up one goal and two assists, Zech Streed, who also registered two goals and two assists, and Trey Tollefson, who also tallied two goals and one assist. Evan VanDenEide also scored for Willmar. In addition, Willmar received assists from Cole Hagen and Cole Block, who each chipped in one.

Wadena-Deer Creek did not reach the goal total it has come to expect this season. The Wolverines put an average of 4.8 pucks into the net per game. Wadena-Deer Creek did not challenge the opposing netminder, only getting 10 shots on net to force eight saves.

The Wolverines were helped by Mitchell Swanson, who had one goal and one assist. Swanson scored 12:25 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Wadena-Deer Creek. Christian Berg provided the assist. Wadena-Deer Creek also got a goal from Dylan Phillips as well.

Levi Goosman rejected eight shots on goal for the Cardinals. Willmar incurred four minutes in penalty time with two minors. McManigle recorded 41 saves for Wadena-Deer Creek. The Wolverines totaled 35 minutes in penalty time with five minors and one major and had no power play opportunities. Wadena-Deer Creek ran into serious disciplinary problems during the contest, and Bridger Pettit was ejected from the game.