The Lumberjacks totaled 11 minor penalties, and while the team allowed just two goals while shorthanded, the more than 20 minutes in penalties caused Tupper Lake to never find any rhythm.

“It’s hard to win a game when you’re down a man the whole game,” Tupper Lake head coach Broyce Guerette said. “We did deal with that early in the season, and we were able to cut that out, but today, they just didn’t have it in them to keep their head in the game.”

Thousand Islands’ Kole Steblan scored two goals and had one assist, while Evan Sanford tallied one goal and one assist. Owen Bismark, Carter Phinney and Grady Swanson also scored as the Islanders split the season series between the two squads.

The Lumberjacks, which dropped to 7-6 overall, previously defeated Thousand Islands 6-5 in overtime on Dec. 16. The Islanders improved to 7-5-1 with the win.

Tupper Lake’s Philip Lindsay takes a shot during Monday’s game at the Tupper Lake Civic Center. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

After giving up a pair of goals in the opening period on Monday, the Lumberjacks Karter Kenniston buried his seventh goal of the season on a one-timer from Gauge LaValley. Guerette praised LaValley’s performance, adding that was a huge play by him.

“(He) played well and was smart,” Guerette said. “He’s a ninth grader, and we have him on our first line. He just comes out every game ready to play and ready to go. He had a ton of chances.”

Despite being outshot 50-26, Tupper Lake had some opportunities to score, but they were either shut down by the Islanders netminder, Sean Sherboneau, or turned away by their defense.

“The whole team had a ton of chances, but (LaValley), in particular, just seemed to create a lot,” Guerette said.

Steblen scored the game’s first goal at 6:34 in the first period and Thousand Islands extended its lead to 2-0 when Sanford scored a powerplay goal around six minutes later.

While leading 2-1 after the opening period, Bismarck netted a goal in the second to push the lead back to two. The Islanders connected on three straight goals in the final period to close out the contest.

Thousand Islands’ Ray Peters added two assists in the win, while Bradyen Trayer, Mason Savage, Connor Felder and Carlie Gorman each had one.

Brayden Shannon had a solid outing for the Lumberjacks, recording 44 saves, while Thousand Islands’ Sherboneau had 25 stops. Guerette was pleased with his goalies’ effort.

Tupper Lake, which is 2-3 in its last five contests, will look to rebound on its home ice at noon on Saturday against the St. Lawrence Larries, which are 5-6-2 this season.

While Guerette didn’t have an immediate answer to how the team would respond after its disappointing loss Monday, he wants his team to go into practice with a little bit of energy.

“We should be able to carry that through Saturday,” he said. “We’ve been able to do it so far and I have no doubts that we can do it again.”