Even after capping a 31-0 season with a 2015 Class 2A state championship title, Lakeville North is keeping expectations high as the Panthers hit the home stretch of this season.

“This time of year, you’re almost a little hard on your guys because you’re looking for perfection,” Panthers’ head coach Trent Eigner said after his team cruised to a 4-1 win over crosstown rival Lakeville South on Thursday night.

Four players scored in the win for the Panthers (15-5-1, 14-2-0), who have won four straight games since a 1-0 loss at the hands of South Suburban Conference foe Farmington on Jan. 21.

Sophomore forward Blake Brandt scored in the first period, and junior forwards Ryan Poehling, Max McGlade and Reed Smith added goals down the stretch in the win.

Eigner says that in-game adjustments are still a part of the Panthers’ game plan.

“We picked ourselves apart between periods,” Eigner said, adding that the Panthers discussed their lack of physical play and a need to simplify things on the ice. “Ultimately, the result was good.”

The Panthers, ranked No. 8 in the latest Class 2A coaches’ poll, also managed to kill a five-minute major penalty late in the game, thwarting Lakeville South’s best chance at closing the three-goal gap.

“Any time there’s special teams involved in games, they can really swing momentum,” Eigner said.

Eigner added that the penalty kill may have sapped the Cougars’ remaining energy.

“I thought we did a good job, and it kind of took the life out of (Lakeville South) the rest of the way.”

Junior forward William Moore scored the lone goal for the No. 20-2A Cougars (13-7-1).

In their next game, the Panthers will travel to Duluth for a rematch of last season’s Class 2A state championship against No. 14-2A Duluth East, as part of Hockey Day Minnesota this Saturday at 1 p.m.