Bemidji State ends Gophers’ winning streak in men’s hockey

Kirklan Irey’s two first-period goals and Mattias Sholl’s 38 saves helped Bemidji State earn a 3-1 nonconference victory over the Gophers men’s hockey team on Saturday at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn.

The victory was the Beavers’ first over the Gophers since Jan. 30, 2016. The Beavers, who lost to the Gophers 5-3 in the series opener on Thursday at 3M Arena at Mariucci, are 3-21-1 all-time against the Gophers.

The loss ended a nine-game winning streak for the third-ranked Gophers (10-2).

“This is a frustrating sport we play sometimes.” Gophers coach Bob Motzko said. “We made a blunder 10 seconds into the game and that happens, but for the next 58 minutes, we had many, many chances. I think the last two periods we had 65 shot attempts, but it took until just a couple of minutes to go before we could get one through.”

Irey’s first goal came 21 seconds after the opening faceoff. His second goal came with 10 minutes, 16 seconds left in the first period.

Irey, a junior forward, had scored just one goal in the Beavers’ first nine games before scoring a goal in the series opener.

After a scoreless second period, Matthew Wood scored for the Gophers with an extra attacker on the ice with 2 minutes, 12 seconds remaining.

Donte Lawson’s empty-net goal with eight seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Beavers.

The Gophers outshot the Beavers 39-21 — including 26-10 in the final two periods — but Sholl, who has two shutouts this season and entered the game with a 2.69 goals-against average, was solid. A senior from Hermosa Beach, Calif., Sholl was named the CCHA Goaltender of the Year last season.

The Gophers play at Notre Dame next weekend. The Beavers (5-6) play host to St. Thomas.