MOORHEAD — Brainerd scored four power-play goals in the second period, and goaltender Kyle Helmberger held off a barrage of Moorhead shots in the third as the Warriors beat the Spuds 8-5, their first win over Moorhead since the 1999-2000 season.

Jake Ellingson recorded a hat trick and Chris Pohlkamp notched four assists in the Section 8-2A victory.

“I think the boys are pretty excited,” said Warriors head coach Jim Archibald. “I told them to enjoy this one and we are proud of them. We have a plan and as long as we stick with it we will be where we want to be at the end of the year.

“It was a big confidence-builder. The boys finally realized we can be successful and beat anyone on any given night.”

The Spuds entered the game with a 7-6-1 record and a No. 16 ranking in Class 2A. The Warriors won their sixth straight game.

Cole Smith started the scoring for Brainerd in the first period, and the Warriors led 3-1 after one.

In the second, Ellingson, Logan Rivard, Griffin Campbell and Pohlkamp all scored power-play goals to give the Warriors a 7-3 lead.

The Spuds gave Helmberger all that he could handle in the third period, scoring two goals to make it a 7-5 game. Ellingson’s goal at the 3:44 mark was the final score and gave the Warriors a little bit of breathing room.

Brainerd had a record of 0-19-1 in its previous 20 games against the Spuds.

“We did a lot of things right tonight,” Archibald said. “There were a lot of penalties and our specialty teams played well and that was the difference in the game.”

Moorhead received 31 minutes in penalties and the Warriors cashed in with six power-play goals.

Moorhead 1 2 2 — 5

Brainerd 3 4 1 — 8

First period: Brd-Cole Smith (Chris Pohlkamp) 2:11, Mhd-Patrick O’Connor (Aaron Herdt, Nicholas Uglem) 5:47, Brd-Jacob Ellingson (Pohlkamp) ppg 6:15, Brd-Griffin Campbell ppg 15:29

Second period: Mhd-John O’Connor 2:08, Brd-Ellingson (Pohlkamp) ppg 6:59, Brd-Logan Rivard (Pohlkamp) ppg 9:22, Brd-Campbell (Reno Fussy, Thomas Stoxen) ppg 9:54, Brd-Pohlkamp (Fussy) ppg 13:20.

Mhd-Thomas Carey (Tony Uglem) 14:39

Third period: Mhd-Alex Mehnert (Uglem) ppg :52, Mhd-Aaron Herdt (Alex Mehnert) 1:35, Brd-Ellingson (Rivard) 3:44

Overall: Brd 10-4-0. Next: Brainerd hosts Osseo 7:15 p.m. Friday.