FINAL-Minnesota is out-worked, out-played and out-skated for two nights in a row, leading the Huskies to a two-game sweep over the Gophers. 1:03 3rd-Minnesota goes with an empty net hoping to comeback, put the Huskies add another goal. St. Cloud St. adds its fourth goal when Festler knocks the puck through the empty net. The goal is Festler’s second of the night. GOPHERS 1, ST. CLOUD ST. 4. 7:50 3rd-Mike Lee makes an outstanding save for the Huskies. Tony Lucia took a pass from Aaron Ness and tried to tip the puck past Lee, who made a great glove save. 11:31 3rd-Both teams are at full strength, as Cepis and Raboin return from the penalty box. 13:39 3rd-Cepis gets taken down on the right side of the Huskies boards. Two minor penalties are issued, Cepis is sent to the box for holding, while St. Cloud St.’s Garrett Raboin is called for roughing, leaving play four-on-four for the next two minutes. 16:25 3rd-The Gophers finally get on the board. After the conclusion of the five minute major penalty, Aaron Ness took a puck from deep in the Gophers zone and led a fast break. Jacob Cepis took the puck in the left circle of the St. Cloud zone and passed it to Cade Fairchild, who fired a one-timer that got high past Lee for the first Minnesota goal of the night. GOPHERS 1, ST. CLOUD ST. 3. 17:44 3rd-St. Cloud St. nearly adds to its lead. A shot got passed Kangas, bounced off the right pipe and over where it hit the left pipe and bounced out. After official review it was determined to not have passed the red line, keeping the Huskies lead at 3. Second Intermission Re-Cap: Goals: Gophers 0; St. Cloud St. 1 (Festler) Shots on Goal: Gophers 14; St. Cloud St. 10 Penalties: Gophers 3; St. Cloud St. 2 00:00 2nd-The second period comes to a close, sending the few fans that attended today’s game headed towards the exits. Minnesota has had its fair share of chances, but simply has not capitalized. Unlike last night, the Gophers came out tonight with no fight in the second period, and St. Cloud again took advantage as they have all weekend, adding a third goal early into the second period. 3:41 2nd-After checking St. Cloud St.’s Tony Mosey hard into the boards behind the Minnesota net, the Gophers Kevin Wehrs was issued a five-minute major penalty for game misconduct for checking from behind, giving St. Cloud nearly four minutes of a man-advantage. 4:40 2nd-Penalties are assessed to each team after extracurricular activities took place after play had been whistled dead. Sent to the box for Minnesota was Josh Birkholz, and for St. Cloud St. Chris Hepp, each for face masking. 8:06 2nd-The Gophers power play ends with several close chances but no pucks managed to find their way to the back of the net. The best chance came when Tony Lucia had a look at a wide open net, but fired wide left. 10:14 2nd-Minnesota will attempt a comeback with the man-advantage, as Huskies forward Aaron Marvin is cited for tripping. 15:39 2nd-The major difference between tonight and last night appears to only be the time of the St. Cloud St. goals. Tonight the Huskies waited until just under five minutes into the second period, when Ryan Lasch put a centering pass that found a streaking Festler in the slot, who fired a one-timer past Kangas. The goalie lost sight of the puck through the traffic and was helpless to stop the third goal of the night. GOPHERS 0, ST. CLOUD ST. 3. First Intermission Re-Cap: Goals: Gophers 0; St. Cloud St. 2 (Johnson, Eddy) Shots on Goal: Gophers 15; St. Cloud St. 5 Penalties: Gophers 1; St. Cloud St. 1 00:00 1st-A dismal first period for the Gophers mercifully comes to an end. For the second straight night Minnesota came out flat in a series they needed to at least split. Last night’s three-goal outburst by the Huskies proved to be too much to overcome, and time will tell if tonight’s two-goal lead is safe for St. Cloud St. 6:51 1st-In what is looking more and more like a replay of last night’s game, St. Cloud St. strikes again. David Eddy fired a shot in the slot that bounced off Kangas and rolled back into the net. GOPHERS 0, ST. CLOUD ST. 2. 11:55 1st-Minnesota’s power play ends with one shot on net by Carman that was chest saved by Lee. For whatever reason the Gophers have come out extremely flat for the second straight opening period, and much like last night the Huskies have taken advantage. 14:21 1st-Minnesota will be on its first power play of the game, as St. Cloud St.’s Chris Hepp is cited for holding. The power play goal allowed by the Gophers earlier in the period is just the second in opponents last 30 tries during the man advantage. Minnesota enters this game having scored a power play goal in nine straight games. 17:53 1st-The strong contingent of St. Cloud St. fans that made the trip south are rewarded early. Taking a pass from Sam Zabkowicz, Taylor Johnson fired a shot from inside the dot of the left face off circle of the Gophers zone that went high and past Kangas for the power play goal. The goal came on the first shot of the night for either team and is the first of Johnson’s career. GOPHERS 0, ST. CLOUD ST. 1. 19:11 1st-A deflected puck was scooped up by Huskies forward Jared Festler, who skated all alone on the breakaway. Minnesota defenseman Nick Leddy trailed Festler and committed a smart penalty, not allowing Festler to put a shot on net. St. Cloud St. will be on the first power play of the night.

Due to techincal difficulties we were unable to post the usual pre-game report, so as the puck gets set to drop I will skip last night’s summary and just present the starting lineups for each team.

Minnesota Offensive First Line:

Left Wing-Jacob Cepis

Center-Jordan Schroeder

Right Wing-Zach Budish

Minnesota Defensive First Line:

Left-Nick Leddy

Right-David Fischer

Goalie-Alex Kangas

St. Cloud St. Offensive First Line:

Left Wing-Jared Festler

Center-Aaron Marvin

Right Wing-Ryan Lasch

St. Cloud St. Defensive First Line:

Left-Chris Hepp

Right-Garrett Raboin

Goalie-Mike Lee