Minnesota-Duluth Earns 2-2 Tie With Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jake Hendrickson scored midway through the third period Saturday to help Minnesota-Duluth earn a 2-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association tie with Minnesota.

Second-ranked Minnesota took the lead earlier in the period when junior Tom Serratore scored for the first time in 15 games. Serratore hadn't scored a goal since Dec. 8.

Minnesota entered the night one point behind St. Cloud State in the race for the McNaughton Cup. But the Gophers' tie, combined with St. Cloud State's win over Colorado College, leaves Minnesota two points back and in second place.

"It was a hard-fought game," Minnesota coach Don Lucia said. "The only good thing is we know at the end of the weekend we're in second place."

The Gophers (21-6-5, 13-6-5) never trailed after Mike Reilly's power-play goal at 18:11 of the first period. Austin Farley knotted it for UMD (10-17-5, 8-13-5) at 12:13 of the second period.

Serratore broke the tie at 6:25 of the third.

"It was great to see Tom Serratore chip in a goal," Lucia said. "Obviously we hoped it would be the game-winner."

Hendrickson benefitted from a fluke play to get the tying goal. Minnesota goalie Adam Wilcox stopped a shot by Keegan Flaherty and flipped it aside. But the puck hit the side of the net and bounced back in from where Hendrickson was waiting to flip it in for the score.

Goalies took charge late in the game. Wilcox made 12 saves in the third period and three in overtime, finishing with 35 saves. UMD's Matt McNeely had 16 of his 38 saves in the third and three in overtime.

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