Maybe that’s why they call them special teams. 

Eden Prairie rode a 3-for-6 performance on the power play to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over No. 2 seed Blaine on Friday night, earning its first appearance in the state title for the second time in four seasons. 

“We have real good team speed,” Eden Prairie coach Lee Smith said after the game. “We can draw penalties on a team like that because we can move and we put them in bad spots as far as their defensemen (are concerned).”

Whether the calls against the Bengals were warranted or not, the Eagles (19-9-2) made the most of the opportunities with the man-advantage. 

“We’re built on depth,” Blaine coach Chris Carroll said. “We want to play three lines and obviously when you get into a special teams battle like that you end up relying on (certain) guys more often.”

Conspicuously missing from the Eagle scoresheet was Mr. Hockey candidate Jack Jensen, allowing players who typically play a supporting role a chance to shine. 

“It’s always good to have the whole team scoring,” Jensen said. “If you have that, the momentum’s going to be amazing.”

Keegan Langefels and Garrett Smith scored their ninth and fifth goals of the season respectively to tie the game at 2-2 in the second, with Smith’s goal coming on a pure effort play while laying on the ice in front of the Blaine net. 

“I’ve been known for maybe more of those greasy goals,” Smith said. “I’m not the flashiest player, but I put my heart into it.”

After Langefels and Smith, Carson Jones netted his second goal of the season for the No. 3 seed Eagles, with Luke Mittelstadt adding the fourth. 

Blaine junior Carsen Richels pulled the Bengals (23-3-2) within one at 4-3 at the 14:21 mark of the third period, but the second-seeded Bengals couldn't throw the final punch. 

“They were line-matching there, but we took too many penalties in the second period,” Blaine’s Mr. Hockey candidate Bryce Brodzinski said. “They scored three goals on the power play, and that really killed us.”