#5 ANDOVER VS. #4 MOORHEAD

Two teams with elite junior classes collide in the nightcap. Moorhead won a December meeting 6-1, and Andover won a 2020 consolation game between these two. 

Andover (22-5-1, #9, 1-seed in 7AA)

State appearances: 3 (3 in a row)

Key section win: 3-1 over #6 Grand Rapids

The Huskies are becoming an Xcel Center staple, at least on Thursday, and will now look to take that next step and make their first semifinal.

The junior duo of Gavyn Thoreson (12) and Cayden Casey (15) has been a force all season, and a now-healthy Cooper Conway (8) supplements them well. The other lines play solid puck possession hockey, with Logan Gravink (22) and Hudson Zinda (5) adding some scoring depth. Defensively, Weston Knox (4) and Kyle Law (2) lock things down and provide stability. Austin Brauns (1) is a Brimsek Award finalist in net.

There are no obvious holes here; the key to beating them is shutting down that top line and limiting space; occasionally all their control has not led to a ton of goals. Still, they are certainly capable of winning the thing.

Moorhead (21-6-1), #3, 1-seed in 8AA)

State appearances: 19 (4 in a row)

Key section win: 8-4 over 3-seed Elk River

The Spuds roll into the Tourney having won 18 of their last 19. In a Tourney with plenty of good top lines, the Spuds’ group of junior Harper Bentz (19), Mr. Hockey finalist Gavin Lindberg (3), and Carson Triggs (16) scored about as many as any top three. Aaron Reierson (22) gives them a fourth front-line forward. Joe Gramer (23) carries on a proud family tradition on defense, and with compatriots such as Joe Schiller (4) and Colby Krier (5), they are in a position to provide some protection for Kai Weigel (31) in net.

They bled some goals in the section final against Elk River and a late-season game with Hill and may have to tighten things up, but if they do, they’re right there in contention given their balance and ability to finish.