MITCHELL – Parker Denne and Tyson Sabers scored two goals apiece as the Mitchell Marlins blanked the Aberdeen Cougars 4-0 in boys’ hockey action Friday night in Mitchell.

The loss marked the fourth straight for the Cougars, who have just two games remaining in the regular season.

Denne scored once in the opening period and once in the second period before passing the puck, literally, off to Sabers, who had a second period goal and capped off the contest with a goal in the third.

“We took too many penalties and put ourselves in a whole early in the game and weren’t able to recover,” said Cougars coach Jeremey Backous. “We have to play smarter and a lot better (Saturday) against Sioux Falls 1.”

The Marlins outshot Aberdeen by a 31-20 count.

The Cougars will head to Sioux Falls for a pair of games today and Sunday before turning their attention to the state tournament next month in Brookings.

“We need to find ways to start generating some offense and positive energy to start games,” Backous said. “It’s hard to win games when we’re playing from behind all the time.”

Aberdeen Cougars 0 0 0 – 0

Mitchell Marlins 1 2 1 – 4

First period: 1, MIT, Parker Denne (Tanner Puetz, Kaden Contreras), 4:08.

Second period: 2, MIT, Denne (Lukas Jerke), 13:46; 3, MIT, Tyson Sabers (Denne), 16:47.

Third period: 4, MIT, Sabers (Denne, Levi Loken), 2:22.

Shots on Goal: Aberdeen Cougars 20; Mitchell Marlins 31.

Goalies: Aberdeen Cougars, Sam Casper (27 saves); Mitchell Marlins, Drake Jerke (20 saves).