Marquette’s Seth Sandstrom, right, and Hancock forward Brady Axford battle for the puck in the Bulldogs’ zone in the first period of their high school hockey game played Tuesday at the Houghton County Arena in Hancock. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette photo by David Archambeau)

HANCOCK — Marquette jumped out early and extended its new winning streak to three games as the Sentinels defeated Hancock 7-2 at the Houghton County Arena in Hancock on Tuesday night.

After C.J. Carter got Marquette on the scoreboard just under three minutes in, the visitors added three more in quick succession from Caleb Beerman, Lucas Belkowski and Connor Stade.

In the second period, Beerman scored his second of the night 7:22 in. Then Brody Sheldon pushed the lead to 6-0 at 12:41.

Hancock finally broke through at 15:33 when junior winger Jackson Sintkowski found the net. Sophomore defenseman Todd Kilpela and co-captain Luke Mikkola both assisted on the tally.

Freshman center Tevin Stukel pulled Hancock back within 6-2 at 8:18 of the third. Senior winger Sam Roberts and Sintkowski earned assists.

But the Sentinels would get the last word when Jack Pond regained his team’s five-goal advantage with just over five minutes left.

Seniors goaltenders Saku Cunard and Dan Wroblewski combined to make 26 saves in the loss for Hancock. Parker Nevenhoven had 19 saves for Marquette.

It’s been a season of streaks for MSHS, which lost two of its first three games before going on a 15-game winning streak that lasted from late November until late January. Then the Sentinels dropped three in a row, all in downstate hockey showcases, before winning their past three to improve to 18-5.

Marquette finishes the regular season by hosting Houghton at 6:30 p.m. Friday, which will also be the Sentinels’ Senior Night.

Marquette begins MHSAA tournament play next week, hosting the winner of a game from earlier in the week between Negaunee and Escanaba at 6 p.m. Thursday in the regional semifinal. The regional championship will be decided the following Wednesday, Feb. 28, at a site tentatively listed as Iron Mountain.