WORTHINGTON - The No. 8-seeded Worthington Trojans shut out the No. 9-seeded Fairmont Area Cardinals, 2-0, during the Section 3A play-in boys hockey playoff contest on Tuesday night in Worthington.
The Trojans (4-15) advance to face the No. 1-seeded Luverne Cardinals in a 7 p.m. Section 3A quarterfinal game on Thursday night in Luverne.
Worthington also posted regular-season victories over Fairmont Area - a 7-2 decision on Dec. 13 at Martin County Arena and a 4-1 triumph on Jan. 10 in Worthington.
Fairmont Area finished the season with a 2-19-1 overall record.
Trojan netminder Rylan Scholtes stopped all 18 of the Fairmont Area shots on net to preserve the shutout victory.
Nick Newman scored with 2:52 remaining in the opening period to stake Worthington to an early 1-0 advantage on the scoreboard.
Fairmont Area netminder Colton Cunning made 14 of his 36 saves during the second period to keep it a one-goal game.
Nathan Patten added to the Trojans' advantage by netting a goal at the 8:28 mark in the third period to make it 2-0 contest.
Fairmont Area 0-0-0-0
Worthington 1-0-1-2
Scoring Plays
1st Period
W - Nick Newman (Kody Honius, Andrew Johnson), 2:52.
2nd Period
No scoring.
3rd Period
W - Nathan Patten (Levi Leach, Jacob Oberloh), 8:28.
Saves: Colton Cunning (FA) 36; Rylan Scholtes (W) 18.
Shots on goal: Fairmont Area 18; Worthington 38.
Penalties: Fairmont Area 1 for 2 minutes; Worthington 3 for 6 minutes.
Power-play chances: Worthington 0 for 3; Fairmont Area 0 for 1.