Near the end of the Thursday night’s game, it wasn’t Liam Malmquist’s speed, stickhandling, or shot that paid dividends for Edina. It was his patience. 

With Moorhead’s goaltender Hudson Hodges pulled for an extra attacker, Malmquist scooped up a loose puck in the neutral zone, turned toward the vacant Spud net, read the situation and calmly slipped the puck to Kevin Delaney across the red line for the game-clinching score. 

“I didn’t wanna just ice the puck, so I made a good pass to Kevin, and he had a good finish,” Malmquist said after the game. 

While most high school hockey players may look for an extra point with the opposing goalie on the bench, Edina coach Curt Giles said that Malmquist’s rational choice is the result of practicing decision-making throughout the year. 

“We rely on them to make those decisions,” Giles said, dismissing the notion that the direction to hold onto the puck came from the bench. “We try to get them to make good decisions all season long in different areas and different parts of the game,” Giles continued. 

Giles went on to say that Malmquist’s team-first play is indicative of the team’s attitude. “The easiest thing for Liam to do would be (to) fire that puck and try to get another goal,” Giles said. “That’s what they’ve done for us all year. They’ve been very unselfish, very team-oriented. “It’s a great group to coach.”

In addition to his game-sealing assist, Malmquist tallied his 24th goal of the season. Jett Jungels and Mason Nevers also scored in addition to Malmquist and Delaney.

Cullen Gess and Nolan Westra scored for the Spuds (21-7-1), with Westra’s goal pulling the team within one late in the third period. 

Edina’s goals by Jungels and Nevers came in the first period, giving the top-seeded Hornets (25-2-1) an early edge. 

“First period, obviously that’s not the script you write,” Moorhead coach Jon Ammerman said. “If you get outta there only down one, it’a maybe a different game.”

It could have been a different game, in Edina’s favor, if the Spuds’ penalty kill hadn’t been successful on four of five tries.

“I thought our penalty kill was outstanding, despite giving up a goal,” Ammerman said. 

Giles also praised the Moorhead penalty-killing unit and said the Hornets did not expect to buzz past the Spuds without a fight. 

“We knew this was gonna be a heck of a hockey game,” Giles said. “It was no surprise that it was as tough as it was.”