Kingsford junior Nate Scullon makes a kick save during the second period Tuesday. Scullon stopped 22 shots in the Flivvers’ 7-3 victory. (Ron Deuter photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Kingsford’s recent offensive surge was finally backed by solid support on defense, as the Flivvers snapped a five-game losing streak with a dominating 7-3 victory over Lakeland (Wis.) Tuesday evening in non-conference varsity hockey at Mountain View Ice Arena.

Led by senior Jake Crockford’s two goals and a steady effort from junior goalie Nate Scullon, the Flivvers erased an early 1-0 deficit and never trailed after Crockford made it 2-1 at 7:55 of the first period by swatting in a rebound on a power play.

The Flivvers, improving to 3-6-0, scored 11 goals over the first five games of the season but now have 22 over the past four games combined — and finally a victory to show for their efforts.

“The boys really needed this,” Kingsford head coach Greg Wadge said.

“Those last two games down state, we throw like 100 pucks on those guys and lose 6-3 and 10-7. I mean, that’s unacceptable. So it was great for us to get the win. And that’s a good hockey team we beat.”

Lakeland entered play Tuesday at 3-1-0, having posted consecutive shutouts ahead of the matchup with the Flivvers.

The Thunderbirds scored early in the contest with a power play tally by sophomore Landon Van Berkel at 1:17 of the first, but Kingsford was able to respond about two and half minutes later. Sophomore Seth Greenleaf fed junior Will Murvich, who found a seam through the slot and buried his third goal of the season.

Carrying their one-goal lead into the first intermission thanks to the Crockford marker, the Flivvers cashed in on another power play chance at 5:21 of the second when Crockford slid a pass from the right circle over to junior Jake Deuter for a wide open one-timer on the far side of the net — his second goal of the year. Senior Captain Gavin Moore, who had a four-point night, also assisted on the score.

“Offensively through the neutral zone, we were real good,” Wadge said. “Our rushes were good and we got some good quality opportunities. We capitalized on the power plays, like that back door shot by Deuter, which was fantastic.”

Lakeland closed the gap a few minutes later with a goal off a faceoff in the Flivvers defensive zone, the puck squirted toward the net off the drop and trickled past the reach of Scullon. However, Kingsford rallied for two more scores before the period ended to grab control of the contest.

Senior Jaxon Buckley knocked in a rebound at 12:49, with assists given to senior Evan Moyer and Murvich. It was Buckley’s fourth of the season. Crockford then made it 5-2 near the end of the second, smashing in a rebound of a shot from the point for his sixth of the season. Greenleaf and Moore collected assists.

Kingsford’s lead grew to 6-2 at 6:17 of the third when sophomore Jack Spreen netted his sixth of the season with assists from Deuter and Moore.

A turnover in the defensive zone allowed Lakeland to trim the Flivvers lead to 6-3 at 10:32, but the visitors couldn’t get any closer. Moore iced the victory with his sixth goal of the season at 12:39, an unassisted coast-to-coast effort by the captain.

Scullon finished with 22 saves for the win, as the Flivvers held a 31-25 advantage in shots.

“I thought Scully played well,” Wadge said. “It was a good game overall.”

The Flivvers play again this evening, hosting Jeffers at 5:30 at Mountain View. The Jets downed Kingsford 5-1 on Dec. 3 and hold an impressive 8-1-0 record for the season.