MINNEAPOLIS -- The top-ranked Minnesota men's hockey team had its 10-game home unbeaten streak snapped by in-state foe Minnesota Duluth Sunday afternoon at Mariucci Arena, dropping a 6-2 decision. The loss dropped the Gophers to 9-2-1 on the season and improved the No. 19 Bulldogs' record to 6-5-1.
The last loss Minnesota suffered on home ice was a 2-0 defeat against then-No. 10 Denver back on March 1, 2013.
After suffering a 6-1 setback Friday night, the Bulldogs jumped ahead with an opportunistic first period, staking themselves to a 3-0 lead on eight shots.
Dominic Toninato opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal, tipping home a Joe Basaraba pass at the 7:47 mark. UMD went on to make it three goals in a 6:40 span after Tony Cameranesi and Justin Crandall found the back of the net at even strength and on the power play, respectively.
Sophomore defenseman Mike Reilly gave Minnesota life in the second period, narrowing the gap to two on a power-play goal from the point. Captain Kyle Rau and fellow junior Sam Warning notched assists on the goal. Warning extended his season-opening point streak to 12 games with the helper.
Minnesota Duluth answered back with two power-play tallies before the end of the middle frame, however, as Austin Farley and Kyle Osterberg gave the Bulldogs a 5-1 advantage heading into the third period.
Osterberg's goal at the 15:12 mark ended Gopher goaltender Adam Wilcox's afternoon-he was replaced by senior Michael Shibrowski.
In the final frame, the teams exchanged goals as Crandall made it 6-1 with his second marker of the game at the 1:05 mark and freshman Michael Brodzinski scored his second goal of the weekend and fourth of the season at 8:56. Both goals were scored on the man advantage.
The Gophers finished the night at two of 10 on the power play. UMD scored four times on seven chances. Minnesota finished with a 38-27 edge in shots, but Minnesota Duluth netminder Matt McNeely played well to earn the win, making 36 saves.
Minnesota will hit the ice again next weekend, ending a six-game homestand with its inaugural Big Ten conference series against No. 12-ranked Wisconsin.
