Gophers men's hockey rallies to beat Mercyhurst 5-3

Junior forward Bryce Brodzinski scored twice in the third period as the No. 4 Gophers rallied to beat Mercyhurst 5-3 on Saturday evening at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

"We played a much better game tonight," Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said, referring to a 7-4 victory in the series and season opener the night before. "We had a four-line attack tonight, and we wore them down. That's what we want to do, and it paid off."

The Gophers outshot the Lakers 42-19 Saturday, but they trailed after each of the first two periods. Brodzinski tied the score at 3-3 on a power play just shy of four minutes into the third. It came on a one-timer from the left circle on a pass from Blake McLaughlin. Ben Meyers, only 1:14 later, got the eventual game-winner on a wrist shot from the high slot.

Seconds before that goal, Gophers goalie Jack LaFontaine kept the score tied by robbing Carson Briere, who had an open left side on a rebound. LaFontaine stretched out his right leg pad to stop the puck.

Brodzinski completed the scoring at 14:13 of the third with his third goal in two games.

The Lakers went up 2-0 in the first period, with Jonathan Bendorf scoring on the power play 1:41 into the game and Maple Grove native Austin Heidemann doubling the lead at 9:44.

Mason Nevers got the Gophers within 2-1 at 17:48 on a power play and they tied the score on Jaxon Nelson's goal at 1:46 of the second period. But three minutes later, Carson Briere restored Mercyhurst's lead. The Gophers caught a break at the end of the period, as a potential Lakers power-play goal came after time expired.

LaFontaine finished with 16 saves. Kyle McClellan had 37 stops for the Lakers.