When District 15 rivals Moorhead and Brainerd get together it usually  makes for entertaining hockey.  Tuesday's matinee match up between these two ranked foes did not disappoint.  The seventh ranked Spuds used a three goal second period and a Kyler Kleven Hatty to defeat the tenth ranked Warriors 4-2 at Essentia Health Sports Center.

The way this one started a a coin toss could have been used to see which team wanted this one more.  Both teams traded early scoring chances and hits early.  Brainerd's William Lundstrom got things going for the Warriors' when he tipped a shot past Ethan Miller for the game's first goal with assists going to Donovan Floyd and Wyatt Andres.  Both teams did a good job of limiting scoring chances for the remainder of the first.  The first period would end with the Warriors on top 1-0

After being held scoreless in the first, Moorhead used its speed and fore check to create early second period chances.  Brainerd goalie Jacob Mitchell was equal to the task as he denied the Spuds' early chances.  Moorhead finally solved Mitchell and in a span of five minutes turned a 1-0 deficit to a 3-1 lead.  Kyler Kleven got things going by slamming a rebound past Mitchell with assists going to Isaac Henkemeyer-Howe and Dylan Cheney.  Just over a minute later Howe scored a breakaway goal and three minutes after that Kleven recorded his second goal of the game tapping in a Thomas Horan pass.  That would end the scoring for the second period and Moorhead headed to the locker room holding a 3-1 lead.

To start the third, Moorhead looked to capitalize on the momentum it created in the second and Brainerd looked to get back in this one.  Moorhead continued to use its speed and fore check but Brainerd would not quit or give up the back breaking goal.  With five minutes to go the Warriors finally got the opportunity they were looking for.  Moorhead was whistled for a penalty and coach Jake Brandt was ready to go all in on its power play opportunity.  After controlling the face off in the Moorhead zone, Brainerd pulled its goalie to create a six on four advantage.  The strategy paid off when Riley Andres scored an unassisted goal to cut the lead to 3-2 with four minutes to play.  Brainerd continued to apply pressure and once again pulled its goalie with 1:25 to play. An untimely penalty wiped out that advantage and Kyler Kleven was able to ice the game and complete his Hatty with an empty netter.  End Result an entertaining 4-2 Moorhead win over Brainerd.