#8 Huskies drop close decision against #1 Minnesota Duluth

Friday, November 4

St. Cloud, Minn.

7:37 p.m.

St. Cloud State

4-3-0, 0-1-0NCHC

University of Minnesota Duluth

6-1-2, 3-0-0NCHC

Minnesota Duluth

St. Cloud State

Mikey Eyssimont

Photo by: Maddie MacFarlane

11/4/2016 10:37:00 PM | Men's Hockey

Box Score

In a battle of two of nation's top college men's hockey teams, #1 ranked Minnesota Duluth (6-1-2, 3-0-0 NCHC) charted a 5-3 win over #8 ranked St. Cloud State University (4-3-0, 0-1-0 NCHC) on Friday, Nov. 4 at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.

The game marked was the NCHC opener for the Huskies, which captured the league's Frozen Faceoff postseason championship in 2016.

In a classic clash between two elite NCHC programs, the Huskies wasted little time in setting the game's tempo with an even strength goal by Robby Jackson at the :34 mark of the first period. Jackson was assisted on the goal by Jack Ahcan and Will Borgen. This was Jackson's first goal of the season and it was also Ahcan's tea, leading sixth assist of the year. Of note, Ahcan has now scored a point in his last five games for the Huskies.

UMD charged back with an even-strength goal by Dominic Toninato at 5:06 of the first to make it 1-1. SCSU regained the lead at 11:36 with an even-strength marker by Mikey Eyssimont, which was his third goal of the 2016-17 season. Patrick Newell and Blake Winiecki each had assists on the play.

WATCH: @ryanpoehling brings the @SCSUHUSKIES_MH to 3-2 over UMD at the end of the 1st period #BattleoftheDawgs pic.twitter.com/p0YHvBuMvS
— Husky Productions (@hphky) November 5, 2016

The Huskies pushed their lead to 3-1 with Ryan Poehling's third goal of the season at 18:14. Nick Poehling and Borgen each had assists on the play for the Huskies. This was Borgen's fifth assist of the season.

WATCH: #19 @MikeyEyssimont nets the second goal for SCSU giving the Huskies a 2-1 lead in the first period #BattleoftheDawgs pic.twitter.com/M3jTBJJQFN
— Husky Productions (@hphky) November 5, 2016

To end the first period, UMD's Alex Iafallo scored at 18:35 to make the score 3-2 at the end of the first. After a scoreless second period, UMD rallied with three unanswered goals to ice the victory. Kyle Osterberg tied the game at 3-3 with a goal at 8:39 before Joey Anderson coined the game winner at 13:48. In the closing minutes of play, Anderson added an empty net goal at 18:56 to make the final tally 5-3.

In the game, UMD outshot the Huskies 31-28. Both teams went scoreless on the power play with 0-of-5 efforts with the advantage. Jeff Smith was the goalie of record for SCSU with 26 saves. Hunter Miska had 25 saves and the win for the Bulldogs.

The Huskies and Bulldogs will complete their weekend series at the HBNHC with a 7:07 p.m. game on Saturday, Nov. 5. Fans can purchase tickets for this game at the gate or you can buy them online at www.scsutickets.com. All SCSU students get in FREE with a valid SCSU student ID card.

WATCH: @RobbyJackson23 scores the first goal of the game in less than 30 seconds into the first period #BattleoftheDawgs pic.twitter.com/hb2siEo8ZG
— Husky Productions (@hphky) November 5, 2016

WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE AT THE HBNHC
Fans are encouraged to bring new and gently used winter clothing items to the game on Saturday, Nov. 5 for donation to the Salvation Army's Winter Clothing Drive. Bins will be located around the HBNHC for winter clothing donations. All items will provide warm clothing during the cold winter months for the area's needy.