The Brandon hockey team left nothing to chance against Flint Metro League rival Linden Feb. 3.
The host Blackhawks took a commanding 3-1 lead after two periods and cruised to a 6-1 win against the Eagles at the Polar Palace in Lapeer.
Mike Ross and Joel Pappas each notched a goal and two assists for the Blackhawks, who improved to 10-4-2 on the season.
Linden actually scored the first goal of the game at 4:55 of the first period, but from there, it was all Brandon.
Mike Cybulski tied things up for Brandon less than a minute later, connecting at 5:35 on assists from Pappas and Ross. The Blackhawks took the lead at 11:46 of the first when Scott Thurman found Brian Quarella, who lit the lamp to make it 2-1 Brandon.
The Blackhawks added to their lead at 4:20 of the second period, when Mark Westphal scored on an assist from Chris Nuccio.
Third-period goals by Stephen Tallman, Ross, and Pappas iced the win for Brandon.
Blackhawks goalie David Hughes stopped 19-of-20 shots (95 percent).
In a game stopped in the third period due to the mercy rule, the visiting Blackhawks defeated LakeVille 11-1 on Jan. 31.
Matt Ruppert notched a hat trick for the Blackhawks, while Cybulski added two goals for Brandon. Also scoring for the Blackhawks were: Craig Skidmore, Brandon Newman, Brad Erlandson, Phil Liquia, Kyle Jackson and Nuccio.
Pappas and Thurman each assisted on three goals for the Blackhawks.
LakeVille’s lone goal came with 7:52 left in the second period.
The Blackhawks had a much tougher time of things one day earlier, when they dropped a 5-1 contest to host Lapeer West.
After West scored with 5:20 left in the first period to take a 1-0 lead, Brandon responded with 2:16 left in the period, as Ross connected on an assist from Cybulski. From there, though, it was all West.
The Blackhawks return to action Wednesday, Feb. 11 when they take on Lapeer East at 7:15 p.m.