#GOPHERS GOAL! Rau from Fasching and C Reilly and the #Gophers win in OT 3-2! #PrideOnIce pic.twitter.com/MBJnF2GjUk
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 4, 2015
Senior captain Kyle Rau fired off the game-winning overtime shot that nailed a 3-2 win Saturday night over RIT in the 24th annual Mariucci Classic. It was Rau’s seventh goal of the season, and it was the Gophers’ 49th shot on goal of the game – a new season high, according to Gopher Sports.
Rau is the NCAA’s active scoring leader, scoring 143 career points in 137 games. Gopher Sports reports 20 out of Rau’s 54 career goals have been game-winners.
Rau was assisted by Hudson Fasching, who came back from the World Junior Championship, and Connor Reilly, who is on a roll with a career-best streak for points to six games.
The Gophers scored in the first period with a goal from Christian Isackson, with the assist from Vinni Lettieri and Taylor Cammarata in just under four minutes of play. The Tigers responded with their first goal less than five minutes later.
Mike Reilly hit the other Gopher goal in regular play in the second period with a setup from Rau and Travis Boyd. RIT tied the game 2-2 in the third period.
Adam Wilcox had 19 saves.
The Gophers are now 10-5-1 overall and 1-0-1-0 in Big Ten play. They resume Big Ten play this week against Michigan.
The Gophers faced RIT in the consolation game of the Mariucci Classic. UMass-Lowell took the title for the first time after beating Merrimack 3-1.
No. 3 Mavericks tie in OT
FINAL | #3 Minnesota State 2, Northern Michigan 2 ot. Mavericks outshot Wildcats 26-22. Minn State is 14-4–1, 11-2-1 WCHA on the year.
— Minnesota State Hockey (@MinnStMHockey) January 4, 2015
The No. 3 Minnesota State University, Mankato hockey team tied Northern Michigan 2-2 Saturday, after beating them 4-1 on Friday.
The Mavs were down one player for most of overtime except for the last 30 seconds, because forward Dylan Margonari got a penalty for checking behind in the last minute of regulation.
The Mavs had no shots on goal in overtime, but they didn’t let any in the net either. Jean-Paul LaFontaine and Zeb Knutson scored the Minnesota State goals.
The Mankato Free Press reports the two teams were called for 14 penalties Saturday.
Knutson is a freshman who played in his sixth game of the season. He’s filling in for Zach Stepan who is benched with an upper-body injury.
Northern Michigan put up a tougher defense on Saturday, keeping the Mavericks to 26 shots.
Friday’s game was special because it marked the program’s 800th win.
Minnesota State hosts Lake Superior State next weekend.
St. Cloud State wins one, loses one
The St. Cloud State men’s hockey team won Friday 3-2 and lost Saturday 4-1 against No. 14 Quinnipac University.
Freshman wing Judd Peterson had the game-winning goal Friday with one minute and 41 seconds left on the clock. David Morley and Daniel Tedesco netted the other goals. Jonny Brodzinski was the only scorer Saturday, the St. Cloud Times reports.
Junior forward David Morley left Saturday’s game injured during the second period and didn’t return. No word on his status as of Saturday night.
