Gophers top North Dakota in OT

Matthew Knies was the extra time hero as No. 1-ranked Minnesota rallied late for a 3-2, extra time victory in opposition to No. 7 North Dakota Friday evening at 3M Enviornment at Mariucci.

Enjoying in entrance of an over-capacity crowd of 10,418, the Golden Gophers tied the sport with the goalie pulled when Mason Nevers jumped off the bench and located the again of the online from the excessive slot because the clock hit 1:24 remaining in regulation to power extra time. It was pure tenacity from Knies getting the sport winner because the sophomore muscled his option to the online profitable a one-on-one battle and whereas falling, slid the puck below the goalie’s pads 21 seconds into OT.

Minnesota carried the play practically the whole evening outshooting the opposition by a 38-18 margin however wanted the late cost to down the Combating Hawks. Each side introduced the physicality delivering bone-crunching hits as every tried to set the tone early. It was the guests that struck for a 1-0 benefit utilizing a shot redirected from the purpose lower than 5 minutes into the competition. The Gophers fought again, producing high quality scoring possibilities up and down the lineup that examined the UND goaltender in the course of the opening body and went into intermission trailing, 1-0.

The relentless, offensive stress from the house facet carried over into the second interval because the Gophers pushed for the tying aim, solely to be stopped at every probability. The Combating Hawks thought they doubled the lead, however a paddle-down save by Justen Shut stored it a one-goal deficit for Minnesota.

After holding an 8-7 edge in photographs by way of one interval, the house group stretched that margin to 22-11 placing 11-straight on body till Jackson LaCombe buried the equalizer on the 18:37 mark. The senior skated alongside the blue line and minimize in on the proper circle earlier than lifting a backhand to the close to nook for his first aim of the season. A late energy play gifted UND a chance and the guests capitalized taking a 2-1 lead with 36 seconds remaining within the interval.

The Gophers needed to maintain off a Combating Hawks’ surge because the puck dropped on the third body, however once more discovered time and area within the offensive zone. Minnesota bought its second energy play of the evening midway by way of the interval and Logan Cooley got here inches from scoring as his one-timer rang off the publish. It took till practically the top of regulation for the house facet to even the sport as Mike Koster discovered Nevers within the slot for the tying aim.

The Maroon and Gold managed the puck for all 21 seconds of the additional session as Cooley related with an open Brock Faber on the blue line. The junior captain despatched a cross-ice cross to Knies and the Phoenix, Ariz., product did the remainder, sending the Minnesota devoted right into a profitable frenzy.

Shut stood tall in aim offering crucial saves when his group wanted him and completed the evening turning away 16 photographs bettering to 3-1 on the season.

Noteworthy
LaCombe’s aim was the eleventh of his profession as he stays Minnesota’s lively chief in profession factors with 69 … The sport profitable aim from Knies was the third of his Gophers profession and his two-point efficiency was his tenth for the ‘U’ … Nevers has now scored in back-to-back outings … Friday evening’s introduced attendance of 10,418 ranks seventh all-time at 3M Enviornment at Mariucci … It was the primary sport this season the place the Gophers didn’t open the scoring having taken the lead in every of the earlier 4 contests.

Coach Motzko’s Feedback
“Nevers was our greatest participant tonight,” Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko mentioned. “Simply working his tail off and we reward him placing him on the market and he scores immediately. I couldn’t be happier. There’s an upperclassman stepping up.”

Subsequent Up: Residence vs. No. 7 North Dakota (Oct. 22)
The Gophers shut the house collection with the Combating Hawks Saturday evening at 7 p.m. dwell on Bally Sports activities North and the Gopher Radio Community 103.5 FM/1130 KTLK.