The Brett Larson era kicked off with a rough 0-3-1 start, but Thursday night in their home opener, the Gophers absolutely flipped the script, taking down bitter rival North Dakota 5-3 for their first victory of the season. This wasn’t just any win, it was the kind of dominant performance against your biggest rival that can completely change the season-long momentum for a young team.
Henricks Gets Things Started in a Bruising First Period
Minnesota looked like a different team from the jump. Highly touted St. Cloud State transfer defenseman Tanner Henricks wasted no time making his presence felt, scoring his first goal in a Gophers uniform with just 2:39 left in the first period. That shot put the Gophers up 1-0, even though they trailed in shots on goal 10-8. The game was physical, too, setting a seriously tough tone right away.
Physicality Erupts, But Gophers Keep the Pressure On
The second period remained incredibly physical, with North Dakota even benefiting from some questionable calls, tying the game at 1-1 with 9:44 left. But don’t let that fool you; Minnesota still controlled the momentum, outshooting the Fighting Hawks 24-15 through two periods. They were dominating the play, just waiting for the dam to break.
Third Period Absolute Firestorm Delivers Larson His Signature Win
And boy, did that dam break in the third. The Gophers, with a commanding 35-24 advantage in shots on goal overall, were finally rewarded. Christian Humphreys found the back of the net for the first time this season, giving Minnesota a 2-1 lead. Less than two minutes later, Jacob Kvasnicka scored to extend it to 3-1. Then, just over one minute after that, Humphreys scored *again*, pushing the lead to a seemingly unassailable 4-1. Things got a little dicey when North Dakota cut the deficit to 4-3 with just over five minutes to go, but Beckett Hendrickson delivered the empty-net goal that sealed the 5-3 win. This is exactly what Larson and his new regime needed, a statement victory proving the Gophers are a force to be reckoned with.
The Gophers are back on the ice Friday night at 6 p.m. CT, looking for their first sweep under Larson. You know North Dakota is coming back hungry, so get ready for another absolute barnburner. This young Gophers team just found its groove, and you don’t want to miss what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply