ST. PAUL - One goal leads to another and another. The score starts to get lopsided. Blood is in the water, and the players know it. 

This is when defense can become an afterthought. When points, seemingly, are as easy to pluck as peaches from a tree.

Hibbing/Chisholm wasn’t particularly pleased with its defensive shortcomings on Wednesday, which is weird to say considering the No. 1 seeded Blue Jackets shut out No. 8 seed Luverne 7-0 in a state Class 1A quarterfinal at the Xcel Energy Center.

True, Hibbing/Chisholm did allow Luverne players to sneak behind them at times, especially in the waning minutes of the third period when the Cardinals had a breakaway and numerous other close-range chances. Still, the Blue Jackets got the shutout. So no worries, right?

Uh, wrong.

“I think we were just going for point night,” senior forward Jace Kampsula said about the Blue Jackets’ defensive shortcomings.

First-year Hibbing/Chisholm coach Aaron Jamnick’s assessment was about the same. There were times when he liked what he saw. There were times when he didn’t.

“When we played hard, when we played simple, we had success,” Jamnick said. “When we got individual with the puck a little bit, we didn’t. 

“We gave up a lot of point-blank shots. That’s not going to cut it in the next round.”

Hibbing/Chisholm is making its first state tournament appearance since 2011. Hibbing, in the heart of the Iron Range, is rich with hockey tradition. The Blue Jackets made a combined seven trips to the Tourney in the 1970s and ’80s. Hibbing boasts one of the finest vintage arenas in all the state. The folks in town are giddy about the team’s success.

“Absoultely huge,” junior forward Ben Galli said about the Blue Jackets’ fan support. “You looked over to our section out there and I thought it was almost full. And I know even more people will be here on Friday.”

Hibbing/Chisholm knocked off the No. 2- and No. 4-ranked teams in Class 1A (Hermantown and Cloquet/Esko/Carlton) to advance out of Section 7A. 

All of that, and there’s not a hint of a happy-to-be-here vibe coming from the Blue Jackets.

Galli was asked if he got his stick on one of the Blue Jackets’ early goals. He said no, it deflected off a Luverne player and in. Not that in mattered.

“It was off the other team’s stick,” Gallie said. “Whoever they credit the goal to, it is what it is. That’s not my worry. I’m not here for the points. 

“I’m here to win it all.”