Minnesota’s 2026-27 season started with a setback Saturday night, as the No. 14 Golden Gophers dropped a 3-2 road decision to No. 19 Michigan Tech at John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
The opener didn’t even get underway on schedule. Poor ice conditions pushed the game back nearly 24 hours, and once the puck finally dropped, Minnesota found itself chasing the night.
Michigan Tech struck first late in the opening period to grab a 1-0 lead, but the Gophers answered almost immediately after intermission. Tate Pritchard tied it 1:25 into the second period, turning a breakaway into a goal and settling things down for Minnesota.
The back-and-forth continued midway through the second. Michigan Tech moved back in front, only for Beckett Hendrickson to bring the Gophers level again after working hard behind the net and finishing to make it 2-2 with more than 11 minutes left in the period.
From there, goaltender Luca Di Pasquo kept Minnesota hanging around. He came up with several important saves, including a stretch of stops during a dangerous run of Michigan Tech chances in the second period.
The game stayed deadlocked until late in the third, when the Huskies took advantage of a Minnesota clearing attempt that bounced the wrong way and turned into the go-ahead goal with 8:19 remaining.
Minnesota pulled its goalie late and pressed in the offensive zone, but the equalizer never came.
The loss ends the Gophers’ six-year run of season-opening wins. Minnesota starts 0-1, while Michigan Tech opens at 1-0.
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