WELLS — The Escanaba Eskymos were in lockdown mode here Friday night in a 4-1 hockey victory over the Kingsford Flivvers.

Esky limited the Flivvers to nine shots on goal, including three on their second power play opportunity nearly midway through the third period.

Kingsford, which had great difficulty breaking out of their zone, managed just three shots through two periods and failed to get a shot during their first power play.

The Flivvers, however, stayed out of the penalty box throughout the contest.

Senior forward Graham Johnson scored a hat trick and Ben Sands got a playmaker with three assists in this non-conference outing.

“Our forecheck was working real well tonight,” Esky coach Andy Johnson said. “Our first forward was hard on the puck which created turnovers.”

Freshman forward Henry Sholten ended the scoring on sophomore forward Gunnar LaMarche’s centering pass from the right, with freshman forward Chase Korpi also credited with an assist 2:26 into the third stanza.

Graham Johnson completed his hat trick with a one-timer from beyond the left faceoff circle in the second frame for a 3-1 lead.

“Graham’s line was working real well tonight,” coach Johnson said. “Henry is showing up on the score sheet and learning to play against seniors. Ben just worked hard and created turnovers and made good plays in the offensive zone.”

Sophomore forward Casey Clisch got Kingsford on the board first on a shot from beyond the left circle 5:33 into the contest.

Esky got the equalizer just 46 seconds later when Graham Johnson skated from in front of the left circle to the doorstep and flipped the puck past senior goaltender Nate Scullon.

“We needed to get that first goal,” coach Johnson said. “We were quick to the puck and getting pucks deep.”

Graham Johnson gave the Eskymos a 2-1 lead from the slot with 2:45 remaining in the opening frame.

The Eskymos, who improved to 11-4, finished with 31 shots on goal.

Scullon stopped 27 shots and Esky senior Cully Hayes had eight saves after allowing Kingsford its goal on its first shot.

“Escanaba has a real good team,” Kingsford coach Greg Wadge said. “We’re starting to get better. The guys have come a long way, only we need to work on getting the puck out of our zone.”

Kingsford, which had won five straight, dropped to 8-5. The Flivvers travel to Hancock Tuesday.

“They’re playing good hockey,” coach Johnson said. “Their goaltender really played well. After Cully gave up that goal on their first shot, he was solid.”

The Eskymos, who hosted Sault Ste. Marie Saturday, will be road warriors for most of their remaining games with all but three away from the friendly confines of the Hannahville Ice & Turf Complex.

They travel to Traverse City this weekend where they’ll face Hartland Friday and Flint Powers Kingsford 1 0 0 — 1

Escanaba 2 1 1 — 4

Scoring plays:

First period

K — Clisch (Murvich), 5:33

E — Graham Johnson (Sands), 6:17

E — Graham Johnson (Martinson, Sands), 14:15

Second period

E — Graham Johnson (Sands, LaBonte)

Third period

E — Sholten (LaMarche, Korpi), 2:26

Statistics

Shots on goals: Escanaba 31, Kingsford 9

Power Plays: Escanaba (none), Kingsford 0-2

Goaltender saves: Kingsford (Scullon 27), Escanaba (Hayes 8)

Penalty minutes: Escanaba 2-4, Kingsford none.