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Duluth East wins in OT after scoring game's final four goals

Greyhounds come from way behind to shock Cadets

March 6, 2015 at 6:02AM
Peter Tufto of STA right scored over Duluth East goalkeeper Gunnar Howg in the second period. Duluth East played St. Thomas Academy in Class 2A quarterfinals boy's hockey state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center Thursday March 5, 2015 in St. Paul, Minnesota. ] Jerry Holt/ Jerry.Holt@Startribune.com
Peter Tufto of St. Thomas Academy scored over Duluth East goalie Gunnar Howg in the second period. The Greyounds rallied for a 6-5 overtime win. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Facing a three-goal deficit twice against St. Thomas Academy did not faze Duluth East. Lately, comebacks have been the Greyhounds' formula for success.

A stirring rally, featuring a trio of third-period goals, sent the game to overtime.

"When we tied it we said, 'We'll play all day,' " Duluth East coach Mike Randolph said. "I've never seen them get tired. They don't quit."

The Greyhounds advanced with a 6-5 upset as Ryan Peterson tipped in the game-winner just 1 minute, 31 seconds into the extra session.

Senior forward Peter Tufto scored twice and assisted on three other goals as No. 3 seed St. Thomas Academy (24-5) fashioned a 5-2 lead through two periods.

But Duluth East, which fought back from a 3-0 deficit against Elk River/Zimmerman to win the Section 7 championship, kept coming. Peterson's first goal, scored at 2:34 of the third period, sparked hope.

"I thought we had the momentum after that one," Peterson said. "That got us going. They didn't get any goals and we kept on going."

"On the bench, after every goal we said, 'Keep believing, keep believing,' " Greyhounds senior co-captain Brian Bunten said.

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Goals from Evan Little and Nick Funk in the last three minutes of regulation for Duluth East (15-10-4) tied the score. Little's power-play goal was especially deflating.

"It was tough when they buried that power-play goal," Cadets' senior Christiano Versich said. "You could just see they had that extra step. They thought they could come back and win."

DAVID La VAQUE

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