Well it was a good first four-and-a-half minutes for the Gophers. Then the bottom fell out.

After a Nate Condon goal 1:34 in, Matt Read and the Beavers responded by tipping a Ryan Adams pass in to tie the game three-and-a-half minutes later. The game changed with that goal as Bemdiji took control of the game and became the more aggressive team. There were stretches of play where the Gophers spent entire shifts in their own zone and letting the third and fourth lines of Bemidji run wild.

An Ian Lowe goal with 7:52 left was waved-off by officials due to Matt Read interfering with Kent Patterson in the crease; however it was vindicated twenty seconds by Bemidji’s Aaron McLeod.

There was one penalty in the period, a hold by Minnesota’s Tom Serratore. The Gophers did kill the penalty although the Beavers spent the first 90 seconds in the zone wearing out the PK. The period ended with Bemidji outshooting Minnesota 13-8 and being the better team (mirroring Michigan Tech last weekend).