Duluth East Defeated In Triple OT Heartbreaker

Another hard fought championship game in the boys state hockey tournament went into overtime and again a Northland team fell just short of the ultimate prize.  Saturday night Duluth East took Eden Prairie into three overtimes before falling 3-2.  I know it’s not that easy, but the team and fans should be proud of the heart they displayed as everyone fought hard.  The game ended with a unique winning goal.

A diving, rebound goal from Kyle Rau gave Eden Prairie a 3-2 victory at 4:43 of the third overtime period of Saturday’s Class 2A state championship game at the Xcel Energy Center.

Saturday marked the first time in 67 years of the state tournament that a championship game went to three overtime periods.

The last big-school or one-class championship game to be decided in overtime was in 1989 when Bloomington Jefferson beat Rochester John Marshall.

In addition, the Greyhounds and Eagles needed overtime to decide their regular season meeting, a 4-3 Greyhounds victory.

Saturday’s state championship is Eden Prairie’s second in three seasons. The bulk of the Eagles’ seniors on the ice Saturday played key roles in winning the 2009 title.

Standout Eden Prairie forward Kyle Rau scored twice in the third period of the first Duluth East game. On Saturday, he was held off the score sheet until the final moment.

He dived to get a stick on the rebound of his twin brother Curt’s shot from the point. The puck got behind goaltender JoJo Jeanetta and Rau won the race to the puck, getting his stick on it and knocking it over the goal line.

Eden Prairie’s other set of twin brothers, David and Mark Rath, forced overtime with third period goals.

Eden Prairie’s David Rath tied the game 2-2 at 14:04 of the third period.

Defenseman Nick Seeler shot a puck from the point that Duluth East Jeanetta couldn’t control.

Rath reached around Jeanetta and stuffed the rebound home to give his Eagles a lift. Eden Prairie outshot Duluth East 10-4 in the third period.

Read entire story via Eden Prairie wins title in triple OT | Minnesota Hockey Hub | MN Boys High School Hockey.