The Houston hockey team notched a 6-1 victory over Soldotna on Thursday in Railbelt Conference play at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.

The Stars fall to 10-7-1 overall and 5-3-1 in the Railbelt after losing to Houston for the third time this season.

The Hawks took a 5-0 lead en route to the victory.

In the first period, Andrey Reutov and Daniel Matveev lit the lamp for Houston. By the end of the second period, it was 4-0 thanks to Anfim Konev and Matveev.

In the third, Afanasy Efimov pushed the lead to 5-0 before Gehret Medcoff earned a penalty shot for the Stars. Medcoff buried the opportunity against Houston goalie Ari Burnside, who made 25 saves.

Matveev then finished the scoring for the Hawks.

Ayden See had 22 saves for the Stars.

Palmer 2, Homer 1

The Moose nipped the Mariners in Railbelt Conference action at the Kevin Bell Ice Arena in Homer.

Homer lost to Palmer for the second time this season to fall to 5-10-1 overall and 4-5-1 in the league.

All of the scoring happened in the second period. Palmer went up 2-0 on goals by Jeremy Horacek and Gavin Gore before Homer answered on a tally by Kazden Stineff, assisted by Matfey Reutov.

Joshua Horacek made 32 saves for the Moose, while Keegan Strong stopped 28 for Homer.

Railbelt action continues today when Kenai hosts Palmer at 7 p.m. and Homer hosts Houston at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Palmer plays at Soldotna at 4:15 p.m. and Houston plays at Kenai at noon.

Thursday

Hawks 6, Stars 1

Houston 2 2 2 —6

Soldotna 0 0 1 —1

First period — 1. Houston, Reutov (Richard), 5:04; 2. Houston, Matveev (Johnson), 8:14. Penalties — Houston 2 for 4:00; Soldotna 2 for 4:00.

Second period — 3. Houston, Konev (Matveev, Efimov), sh, 7:21; 4. Houston, Matveev (Efimov, Reutov), pp, 8:58. Penalties — Houston 3 for 14:00; Soldotna 3 for 14:00.

Third period — 5. Houston, Efimov (Konev), pp, 9:32; 6. Soldotna, Medcoff, penalty shot, 8:24; 7. Houston, Matveev (Richard), 13:11. Penalties — Houston 1 for 2:00; Soldotna 1 for 2:00.

Shots on goal — Houston 11-5-12—28; Soldotna 2-11-13—26.

Goalies — Houston, Burnside (26 shots, 25 saves); Soldotna, See (28 shots, 22 saves).

Moose 2, Mariners 1

Palmer 0 2 0 —2

Homer 0 1 0 —1

First period — none. Penalties — Palmer 2 for 4:00.

Second period — 1. Palmer, Je. Horacek (C. Greco, Armstrong), 3:49; 2. Palmer, Gore (C. Greco, Je. Horacek), 9:22; 3. Homer, Stineff (Reutov), 10:26. Penalties — none.

Third period — none. Penalties — Homer 1 for 2:00.

Shots on goal — Palmer 11-12-7—30; Homer 16-12-5—33.

Goalies — Palmer, Jo. Horacek (33 shots, 32 saves); Homer, Strong (30 shots, 28 saves).

Soldotna’s Zeek Miller and Houston’s Daniel Matveev battle for the puck Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)