Hancock's Cole Stuber (9) wraps around the net for a shot against Negaunee goaltender Ryan Kerkela (34) on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in Hancock, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — Hancock Bulldogs junior winger Austin Salani scored a goal in each period as the Bulldogs skated to a 8-0 win Thursday over the Negaunee Miners.

The third-year scorer has been a big part of the Bulldogs’ push in 2020 as they are 3-1 in their last four games.

“You want to be playing your best hockey toward the end of the season,” said Bulldogs coach Dan Rouleau. “We’re starting at mid season. Hopefully we can keep a nice little run going. We’ve got a few teams that we were able to beat and now when we get a shot at Houghton and Calumet, we have to be able to compete with them, the next time we play them heading into the playoffs.”

While Rouleau was pleased to see the younger Salani net three goals, he was even more excited to see the other five goals were scored by a mix of forwards and defensemen.

“It was just nice to score some goals,” said Rouleau. “We haven’t produced a ton of offense, but we’re starting to find a net. We’re starting to find a net (with) different people. That was nice to see tonight.”

The Bulldogs (5-9-0 overall, 1-5-0 GLHC) were awarded a power play just 19 seconds into the contest, and had a great look just over a minute into the advantage when co-captain Petr Anderson swung at a rebound. His shot was stopped, but as he was following through, he was shoved by a Miners defender into Ryan Kerkela, catching the goaltender up high, causing a break in the action as Kerkela needed medical attention after the play.

It took the Bulldogs another power play advantage before they found the net. Co-captain Colton Salani grabbed the puck along the right boards and fed it out to sophomore defenseman Chad Nordstrom at the right point. Nordstrom backed with the puck to close to the middle of the ice before firing a shot that Austin Salani tipped past Kerkela at 8:10.

The younger Salani picked up his second goal just 1:46 into the second when junior winger Mason Mikesch picked up a puck at center ice and pushed it over. Salani skated in alone from the blue line in, deked to his forehand and slid the puck past Kerkela for the tally.

His third goal came just 1:18 into the third period when he came out of the penalty box and jumped into the middle of the rink where Colton could feed the puck up to him. Austin skated into alone, deked to his backhand and beat Kerkela.

For the Miners (3-10-0 overall, 0-6-0 GLHC), the defensive effort they had against the Houghton Gremlins on Tuesday never really materialized Thursday.

“We definitely didn’t show up the play today,” said Miners coach Dale Hopper. “I think we took our Houghton game for granted and figured that we didn’t have to work very hard in this one to be able to compete and found out today that it’s not the situation. We’ve got to show up every game.”

The Bulldogs finally scored an even strength goal at 6:16 of the middle frame when junior defenseman Bradley Randell found Mikesch in the high left circle. Mikesch fired a slap shot that beat Kerkela.

Things quieted down from there until Petr Anderson stole a pass and skated in alone wiring a wrist shot over Kerkela’s right shoulder at 11:21.

Colton Salani pushed the Bulldogs’ lead to 5-0 when he got to a rebound off a shot from Randell and buried a wrist shot from the high slot at 13:33.

Kerkela, who made 30 of his 45 saves through the first two periods, continued to be a bright spot for the Miners.

“We definitely didn’t help them all too much tonight,” Hopper said. “He played a good game, played solid back there and that’s all we can ask of him. His job is to stop the puck and he tried everything he could tonight to stop the puck. We have got to give him a lot more help on defense and keep the puck and more in the offensive zone.”

Nordstrom scored the Bulldogs’ seventh tally of the night at 11:54 of the third when he put a wrist shot just under the crossbar off a rebound off a shot from Petr Anderson.

Freshman center Calvin Heinonen closed out the scoring with his goal with 43 seconds left in the contest.

Hancock returns to action Saturday when they host Bay Port at the Houghton County Arena.

Negaunee 0 0 0 — 0

Hancock 1 4 1 — 6

First Period–1, HCH, A. Salani (Nordstrom, C. Salani), PP, 8:10.

Second Period–2, HCH, Austin Salani (Mason Mikesch), SH, 1:46. 3, HCH, Mikesch (Bradley Randell, Austin Salani), 6:16. 4, HCH, Petr Anderson, 11:21. 5, HCH, Colton Salani (Randell, Paul Lorenzetti), 13:33.

Third Period–6, HCH, Austin Salani (Colton Salani), 1:18. 7, HCH, Nordstrom (Petr Anderson, Todd Anderson), 11:54. 8, HCH, Calvin Heinonen (Dominick Pizzi, Isaak Pietila), 16:17

Saves–NHS Kerkela, 15-15-15–45. HCH Pietila 3-3-3–9

Power-play Opportunities–NHS 0 of 4. HCH 2 of 4

Penalties-minutes–NHS 4-8; HCH 4-8