MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Alaska Nanooks hockey team knocked-off the #8/8 Minnesota Gophers in Minneapolis. They used two second-period goals to win it 3-2 for their first win over Minnesota since the 2005-06 season. 
 
Filip Fornaa Svensson got the scoring started early for the Nanooks as he played a puck on his backhand and beat Gopher netminder Justen Close over his right shoulder. Didrik Henbrant and Brady Risk picked up assists on the goal. That was the lone goal of the opening-period as the Nanooks managed seven shots-on-goal in the first while Minnesota put 12 on net. Gustavs Davis Grigals stopped all in the first. 
 
In the second, Blake McLaughlin scored for Minnesota only 5:43 into the middle stanza. He took a pass from Matt Staudacher, entering the attacking-zone and beat Grigals glove side in the top-corner making it 1-1. The Nanooks took the hit and rallied 13 seconds later as Brayden Nicholetts tallied his second goal of the season off of an intercepted puck. Matt McKim kept the puck in the attacking-zone and Nicholetts positioned himself in front of Close, getting just enough of a deflection to sneak it in the back of the net. That made it 2-1 and the 'Nooks weren't done yet.
 
When on a 5-on-2, the Nanooks capitalized. Jordan Muzzillo pushed a pass across the slot to Riley Murphy and off of his shot, Markuss Komuls found the puck on the rebound just outside of the crease and slotted the game-winner in the back of the net. 
 
Alaska gave up one more only 18 seconds into the start of the third, but Grigals stopped the other 12 shots-on-goal and the upset became reality as the time ran out in 3M Arena at Mariucci. 
 
This was the first win for the Nanooks over a ranked-opponent since Clarkson came to town for the opening-weekend of the 2021-22 season. Clarkson was ranked #20/RV at the time of the win. This was also the first win in 3M Arena at Mariucci since Oct. 14, 2005 when the Nanooks knocked off the #1-ranked Minnesota Gophers 4-3 in OT. 
 
The Nanooks will have next weekend off before heading back on the road to Vermont and Arizona State.
 
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.