FAIRMONT — Colby Crabtree and Tyler Roberts scored two goals apiece to pace Luverne to an 8-0 Big South Conference boys hockey win over Fairmont Area on Tuesday night at Martin County Arena.

Crabtree scored once in the first period and once in the second, while Roberts connected for a goal in the second period and one in the third to keep Luverne’s offense moving.

Nathan Nekali was the first to get Luverne on the scoreboard when he controlled the puck through Fairmont Area defenders and around the back of the net, then tucked a wraparound shot into the bottom left corner of the webbing with 14:25 left in the opening segment.

Less than 45 seconds later, Crabtree hit his first off a double assist from Cooper Arends and Easton Braun. Braun passed ahead to Arends, who fired a shot toward the Fairmont Area goal, but the attempt was denied. Crabtree grabbed the ensuing rebound and blasted the puck into the bottom right corner of the net.

Zachary Kruse scored the final goal of the opening period, with 2:13 left on the scoreboard, when he used an Arends assist to fire a shot between two Fairmont Area defenders and into the left side of the webbing.

Roberts got the second-period scoring started when he collected a loose puck out of a scrum near the net and sent it upper shelf on the left side to put Luverne ahead 4-0.

Ethan Langseth then got in on the scoring when he used a Cade Wenninger assist for a one-timer into the left side of the net.

Crabtree scored the final second-period goal with 9:37 left off an assist from Braun.

Fairmont Area faced three 4-on-5 situations through the rest of the second period, but didn’t allow a goal. Fairmont Area head coach Dylan VanBrocklin said a change in scheme has helped Fairmont Area’s power-play defense.

“We switched it up, instead of running a box, we switched to running a diamond,” VanBrocklin said. “We were always losing those battles in front of the net so we left an extra guy in front of the net. And a lot of teams like to try for a back door (pass), so instead of having two guys up high, we had two down low. That’s helped a lot and made it a little more simple.”

Roberts scored a shorthanded goal with 4:04 left in the third period when he collected his own rebound from a shot and connected with the left side of the net.

Braun scored the game’s final goal, also shorthanded, with 3:02 left.

VanBrocklin said the team is improving, but still faces similar problems to early in the season.

“We played good in front of the net,” VanBrocklin said. “A lot of their chances were outside of the slot, we weren’t giving them as many second chances, so that was good. We’re still just not winning those races, those one-on-one battles. … We’ve got a lot of injuries and kids out, out of 26 guys we only had 13, so that’s a bummer. But with or without those kids, we’re still not winning those races.”

Luverne outshot Fairmont Area 40-6 in the matchup.

Fairmont Area goalie Tyson Geerdes made 32 saves between the pipes, while Luverne netminder Shaid Shearer made 6 to net the shutout win.

Fairmont Area (2-11) hosts Worthington/Fulda on Thursday in the second half of a girl-boy doubleheader at Martin County Arena. Luverne (10-4) hosts Willmar on Saturday.

Luverne 3-3-2–8

Fairmont 0-0-0–0

Scoring Plays

1st Period

LV–Nathan Nekali (unassisted), 14:25.

LV–Colby Crabtree (Cooper Arends, Easton Braun), 13:43.

LV–Zachary Kruse (Cooper Arends), 2:13.

2nd Period

LV–Tyler Roberts (unassisted), 16:32.

LV–Ethan Langseth (Cade Wenninger), 14:51.

LV–Colby Crabtree (Easton Braun), 9:37.

3rd Period

LV–Tyler Roberts (unassisted), 4:04 SH.

LV–Easton Braun (unassisted), 3:02 SH.

Shots on goal: LV 16-16-8–40; FA 1-3-2–6.

Saves: Tyson Geerdes (FA) 32; Shaid Shearer 6.

Penalties: Luverne 1 for 5 minutes; FA 3 for 6 minutes.

Power-play chances: Luverne 0 for 3; FA 0 for 1.