Overtime goal completes hat trick for Gophers' Kloos

The Gophers passed their first character test of the young season.

On the heels of a humbling loss to in-state rivalry St. Cloud State and an injury that will sideline a veteran forward for a month, the Gophers regrouped for a 4-3 overtime victory on Saturday evening at Mariucci Arena.

Things didn't get any easier as the series shifted back to Minneapolis. The Huskies rallied from behind twice to force the extra period and veteran defenseman Brady Skjei left the game with an injury in the second period. However, sophomore forward Justin Kloos had an answer for everything.

Kloos finished off a hat trick with a goal 1 minute, 19 seconds into overtime to end the weekend for the top-ranked Gophers (5-1) on a positive note with a split in the home-and-home series with the No. 7 Huskies (3-3).

Taylor Cammarata had a pair of assists and Connor Reilly accounted for the Gophers' other goal. And goaltender Adam Wilcox recorded 11 saves in an impressive defensive effort for the Gophers.

"It was pretty fun to get a chance [for the hat trick]," Kloos said after celebrating his first three-goal night since high school. "[Cammarata] played outstanding when we needed him tonight and the play in overtime was 95 percent him and he just got me the puck. He's been playing well all year, so hopefully we'll keep clicking and help the team win."

Kloos' big night helps lessen the sting of losing senior forward Travis Boyd for a month to a lower-body injury. Boyd suffered the injury late in the third period on Friday night during on a Gophers' penalty kill.

Skjei's injury didn't appear as serious. He was walking fine after the game; Lucia said he is day-to-day.

"That's what happens when you have some injuries during the season. … Guys have to step up, and obviously it was Kloos' night," Lucia said.

"Our effort level was a lot better. … We seemed in control, but couldn't get enough separation where it was always a one-goal game."

The Gophers built off a defensive first period with a quick goal coming out of the intermission. Senior forward Kyle Rau won the opening faceoff and then split two defenders on the rush. Kloos trailed close behind and the pairs' speed set up the first goal of the night.

Kloos needed the boost of confidence after a bumpy start filling Boyd's role on the power play. The feed from Rau aided the transition and jump-started Kloos.

"I was just kind of adjusting with Boyd out," Kloos said. "[Boyd] is obviously a great senior leader and he's had a great year for us on the penalty kill, power play and all facets of the game. I think everyone had to step up and it was good we were able to get one today."

Senior big man Seth Ambroz used his physical and vocal presence to get the Gophers going throughout the night. The extra muscle picked up the Gophers' intensity, something he wasn't happy with on Friday. He found himself in multiple wrestling matches in the second and third periods hoping to give his teammates a boost.

The Gophers improved physical game limited the Huskies to just 14 shots on goal while the Gophers had 35.

"We had a good start [on Saturday]. We were more calm, so it was a better game," Cammarata said.