Gophers Suffer Overtime Exhibition Loss

MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – The No. 4 Gopher Hockey program fell to the U.S. Under-18 Team 5-4 in overtime on Friday night at Mariucci Arena in exhibition action, giving the U.S. squad their first win over the Gophers in six meetings.

The Gophers struck first in Friday’s exhibition contest with a pair of quick goals in the first period. Freshman Jack Glover snuck a screened-shot into the net after being set up by Vinni Lettieri at 13:40 and Ryan Reilly bounced a wraparound off a U-18 defenseman and into the net at 15:42 on a fast break from Christian Isackson and Ben Marshall.

The Under-18 Team answered back in similar fashion during the second period with goals from Caleb Jones at 3:36 and Auston Matthews at 6:06 to make it in even game, but Steve Johnson reclaimed the lead for the Gophers later in the period when Kyle Rau set up the freshman defenseman at 13:09.

After Joseph Masonius evened the score at 3-3 7:02 into the third period, Rau scored one of his own at 16:05 after being set up by Leon Bristedt and Sam Warning, but Matthew Tkachuk found the equalizer for the U.S. squad with 1:30 left in regulation.

Matthews notched the game winner for his second of the game at 3:27 as the U.S. Under-18 Team moved to 1-4-1 all-time against the Gophers.

In net, Nick Lehr stopped 35 shots for the Gophers after getting the starting nod while Luke Opilka made 25 saves for the U.S. team. All nine goals on Friday came at even strength.