Game Story: #3 Minnesota upset by Merrimack 4-3 to open year

MINNEAPOLIS- Two goals 16 seconds apart, coming in the final minute of a period, normally has been enough for Minnesota to pull away from its competition at home.

Normally. As Merrimack reminded the Gophers Friday night, it's a new year. The past doesn't mean anything.

Hosting Merrimack to open the 2017-18 season, Minnesota allowed the Warriors to score three times in a six minute stretch of play to erase a 3-1 lead. Lea-Kristine Demers made a career-high 54 saves as Merrimack (2-0-0) defeated the #3 Gophers 4-3 at Ridder Arena.

"They defended really well, blocked a lot of shots and kept things to the outside. Their goalie played really well, but didn't really give up any second chances," Minnesota head coach Brad Frost said. "I don't think we had one odd-man rush, a two-on-one, three-on-two breakaway. On the flip side, they had a couple two-on-ones and a couple breakaways. We didn't defend as well as they did and the puck ends up in the net."