EAST ALTON — While hit with late-season injuries and an ensuing streak of bad luck, the Alton Redbirds flexed a little hockey muscle in their regular-season finale.

Alton exploded for six goals in the first period and skated past Highland 10-3 in Mississippi Valley Club HockeyAssociation action at the East Alton Ice Arena.

The Redbirds (10-11) got three goals from Tanner St. Peters and outshot the Bulldogs 36-28. Next up for the teams will be the annual MVCHA All-Star Game next week at East Alton, prior to the beginning of the league playoffs.

Alton will join Bethalto, Highland, Collinsville, East Alton-Wood River and Granite City in the Class 1A playoffs. The MVCHA had open play for most of the regular season until five games remained, when the teams were split. The top six teams in the standings at that point were classified as 2A, with the second six teams going to 1A.

This is Alton’s first time in Class 1A.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Alton coach Abram Henson. “We’ve been getting to see teams we normally haven’t played that often. we’re been banged up and had a short bench a lot of the season, but I think we’ll be ready.”

The Redbirds were indeed ready Thursday night, despite spending 15 minutes in the penalty box, thanks to seven penalties. Highland was whistled for one two-minute penalty.

After Brock Troxell gave Highland a 1-0 lead at 13:10, the Redbirds reeled off three unanswered goals.

Bryce Simon scored unassisted at 12:00, followed by a goal from St. Peters 30 seconds later, assisted by Joe Boevingloh.

Brandon Lang gave the Redbirds a 3-1 lead when he scored a power-play goal from a Boevingloh assist at the 5:48 mark.

Highland’s Tyler Verson cut the lead to 3-2 at 5:17 from an assists by Troxell and Devin Korte. But the Redbirds went on another scoring spree.

At 3:11, Zack Hunter scored from a Simon assist. That goal was followed by an unassisted Simon goal at 2:37 and a second St. Peters goal at 2:15 from an assist by Logan rushing, making it 6-2 after first period.

But the Redbirds weren’t finished. In the second period, Scotty Waldrup scored unassisted at 4:29 and Jacob Eppel scored from assists by Conner Jones and Boevingloh to make it 8-2 after two period.

In the third, Waldrup make it 9-2 with an unassisted goal at 12:12 and St. Peters capped the Redbirds scoring when he scored off a Rushing assist at 11:18 to make it 10-2.

Troxell scored for Highland with 4:55 remaining to make it 11-3.

Reach Pete Hayes at 463-2500 or Twitter @HayeserPete