Minnetonka and Edina boys hockey draw in OT in Lake Conference showdown

The No. 1 Skippers and No. 3 Hornets penalty kills kept the score low

EDINA, Minnesota — The No. 3 Edina Hornets (13-2-1) and the No. 1 Minnetonka Skippers (14-0-2) tied 1-1 on Thursday night at Braemar Ice Arena.

"[Minnetonka is] an awfully good hockey team, so we knew we needed to play well to compete with them," Edina head coach Curt Giles said. "I think the kids competed hard, and they deserved what they got."

The game was a Class 2A, 2023 title game rematch after the Skippers defeated the Hornets 2-1 at Xcel Energy Center.

Minnetonka took a 1-0 lead a mere one minute, 30 seconds into the game. Forward Ashton Schultz buried a shot in the top corner, over the glove hand of Edina goaltender Joe Bertram.

Edina failed to convert two power plays, and the Hornets killed on Minnetonka power play, before the end of the first period. 

The teams combined for five penalties in the first two periods, and neither offense was able to convert. 

"Things to work on," Giles said. "When you play a good team like that, it shows you things to work on."

Short;y after a Minnetonka power play, Edina sophomore Casey Vandertop snaked his way through Minnetonka defenders and in front of goal to tie the game at one with two minutes remaining.

In the third period, both defense kept the other team off the scoreboard. Minnetonka had a flurry of chances in the final minute, but Bertram saw them off. 

In overtime, neither team was able to score. Minnetonka applied pressure for the most of the extra period, but Edina missed to key chances at the end to win the game, including a 3-on-1.

Both programs have the goal of reaching the state tournament, but time remains in the regular season to improve. These teams meet again on February 10 at Pagel Activity Center.

"We’re getting there," Giles said. "I think we’ve got another level to go yet. We’ve got some things to clean up before we get going down the stretch, but I think we’re making progress."

Top 25 Minnesota high school boys hockey rankings (1/15/2024)

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