Red Wing goalie Lisa Nibbe made 23 saves to earn a 4-0 shutout victory Thursday at section and conference foe Northfield. Nibbe and the Wingers kept the Raiders off the board even though they had seven power plays.

"Nibbe was phenomenal," Red Wing coach Scott Haley said. "That was really the difference. It was a big shutout for her. She's really peaking right now at the right time."

The same could be said of Red Wing. The Wingers lost to Northfield 4-1 in the first meeting of the season on Dec. 16. Red Wing showed similar improvement against Holy Angels, playing to a 1-1 draw in the first meeting and winning the second game 11-0 on Jan. 17.

"It's not how you play in November," Haley said. "Each game they're just a little bit better, a little bit more experienced."

The win will likely be beneficial come section seeding time. Haley said he thinks the Wingers are in line for one of the top two seeds.

The game itself, though, was one to forget. Haley used phrases like "gong show," "chaotic" and "disjointed" to describe a contest in which the teams combined for 12 power plays and 20 penalties.

The physical nature of the game took its toll. Paige Haley, who scored Red Wing's first two goals, left the game midway through the second period with a medial collateral ligament sprain, according to coach Haley.

Nicole Schammel scored Red Wing's other two goals.

"The main thing I'm pleased with is how well the kids persevered," coach Haley said.

Red Wing (10-11-1 overall, 3-6-1 Missota Conference) travels Tuesday to Chaska/Chanhassen.