Staff photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm Steel forward Jack Parks (17) tries to get past a Willmar’s Wyatt Toll during the first period Friday at the New Ulm Civic Center. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

NEW ULM — Coming into this weekend’s games, the New Ulm Steel had won eight of their last nine games.

But Saturday night the Steel lost their second game in as many days as Willmar’s Zach Martin scored two third-period goals as the Warhawks blanked New Ulm 3-0 in an NA3HL game at the New Ulm Civic Center.

New Ulm lost 2-1 to Alexandria on Friday night.

It was the first time that the Steel have been shutout this season.

Kaden Erickson stopped all 23 of New Ulm’s shots in the game.

Steel goalie Ryan Kenny saved 41 of 44 Willmar shots in the game.

For Steel coach Andrew Kolb, the loss was described by him as “not prepared” and “soft” or ” not ready.”

Perhaps the most telling stat of the game came in the first period when Willmar outshot the Steel 17-1 with Jordan Cooper’s power-play goal at the 13:19 mark getting Willmar on the board. But there was a caveat to that figure.

The Steel were on the penalty kill for eight of the 20 minutes killing four Willmar power plays.

“That is eight minutes of ice time right there,” Kolb said. “We were defending a lot. When you are down a man on the PK (penalty kill), It is hard to get anything generated when you are taking penalties.”

“But besides the penalties we were not ready to go,” he said. “We were playing a lot of defense.”

Willmar carried that 1-0 lead into the third period as the Steel failed to score on two power play attempts in the second period.

In the third, Willmar and Zach Martin made it 2-0 at the 8:17 shot when Martin’s shot from the slot got by Kenny who was screened by bodies in front of him.

Martin put the game out of reach six minutes later when he tucked the puck by Kenny for a 3-0 lead.

“Give their team and (Erickson ) credit — they played well.” Kolb said. “We did not play to our potential or play our best at all. But at the same time, they threw it right at us and they played a solid game on the road.”

The Steel’s next home game is on Dec. 29 when they host Breezy Point at the New Ulm Civic Center.