The Gophers men’s hockey team scored four times in the third period to rally for a 6-3 season-opening victory over Michigan Tech on Friday at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
“A ton of positives in there,” Gophers coach Bob Motzko said. “The right guys were making plays when we needed them. A great goal to tie it up right away at the start of the third. [Michigan Tech] is a good hockey team. It was a big win for us tonight and a good grow-up game.”
The Gophers led 2-1 early in the second period before the Huskies, playing at Minnesota for the first time since December 2011, scored two goals 69 seconds apart late in the second period to take a 3-2 lead.
Brodie Ziemer scored his second goal of the game 50 seconds into the third period to tie the score. Brody Lamb scored at 4:13 of the period to give the Gophers the lead for good. Erik Pahlsson made it 5-3 with 7:18 remaining before Beckett Hendrickson’s empty-netter completed the scoring.
Ziemer opened the scoring 3:54 into the game. Tate Pritchard gave the Gophers a 2-1 lead with 14:33 left in the second period.
A dozen players had at least one point for the Gophers, who outshot the Huskies 34-28.
Nathan Airey made 25 saves for the Gophers, who played a penalty free game. The Huskies committed two penalties, both in the first period.
The teams will conclude the series on Saturday. The former WCHA rivals are playing for the first time since a series in Houghton, Mich., in October 2012.
