Overtime goal completes hat trick for Gophers' Kloos, read Saturday night's game story.
The excitement of the overtime game-winning goal distracted fans from appropriately celebrating Justin Kloos' hat trick on Saturday night at Mariucci Arena.
Only one fan threw a hat on the ice as the Gophers congregated around Kloos. Once the public address announcer spotlighted the achievement more hats began to hit the ice.
Sam Warning had the Gophers' only hat trick last season.
Kloos' big night propels him to the top of the Gophers' scoring leaders with five goals. He led the Gophers with 16 goals last season.
Hudson Fasching's lone goal on Friday night briefly gave him a team-high four goals. Connor Reilly's goal on Saturday night was his third of the season. Kyle Rau and Travis Boyd also have three goals on the season.
The Gophers will have to find ways to make up for the loss of Boyd's points (three goals, two assists). Coach Don Lucia said Boyd would miss a month of the season to a lower-body injury suffered on Friday night.
The senior forward was off to a quick start and had the Gophers' special teams working well together. After a shaking first period, Kloos did a good job filling Boyd's role in the power play. And Vinni Lettieri was productive anchoring the third line as Boyd's sub at the center position.
