Bemidji State (8-7-2) vs. Lake Superior State (8-7-1)

On the road in Michigan, Bemidji State erased an early 1-0 deficit via an Austin Jouppi goal to head into the first intermission tied 1-1. Still tied midway through the second, the Beavers added two goals only 46 seconds apart to make it 3-1.

Bemidji State carried a 3-2 lead late into the game, and a seeing-eye Patrik Satosaari shot from the blue line added an insurance goal, leading to a 4-2 Beavers win. The Beavers outshot the Lakers 35-24 in the victory, with Greenway's Donte Lawson tallying two assists for his first collegiate multi-point game. 

The Beavers led 1-0 early in game two, but back-to-back goals from Lake Superior State's Sasha Teleguine put the Lakers ahead 2-1 at the break. Just under five minutes into period two, the Lakers struck again, with Rosemount's Luke Levandowski netting his second goal of the season. With 9:54 remaining in regulation, the Beavers clawed one back off a quick snapshot from Kirklan Irey.

Trailing two goals once more as the end of regulation neared, Jackson Jutting scored for Bemidji State to make it 4-3 with 5:14 remaining, but that would be the final, resulting in the Beaver's' first regulation loss since 11/14. 

The Beavers will return home and suit up against Michigan Tech (8-5-1) this weekend for their final series of 2024, with puck drop at 7:07 PM on 12/13 and 6:07 PM on 12/14. 

No. 4 Minnesota (15-2-1) vs. No. 6 Michigan (10-5-1)

The Gophers opened the series in dominating fashion in game one Friday night, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, where the team outshot the Wolverines 21-5. Junior Matthew Wood opened the scoring, followed by Jimmy Snuggerud and finally Aaron Huglen, in what was the Gophers' strongest period thus far this season. The Gophers kept their foot on the gas and made it 4-0 only 48 seconds into period two.

Midway through the third period, Minnesota added two goals in quick succession from August Falloon and Connor Kurth, which ended up being the final goals scored in a 6-0 rout. Center Oliver Moore had a dominant three-assist night, and goaltender Nathan Airey recorded his first collegiate shutout, making 32 saves. 

As expected, the Wolverines came out flying in game two, but the Gophers weathered the storm and led 1-0 after one, with sophomore Sam Rinzel lighting the lamp on a power play for his eighth goal this season. An even second period ensued, and the Gophers carried their one-goal lead into the third. Late in regulation, with the Michigan goaltender pulled, Jimmy Snuggerud scored an empty net goal to secure the win and clinch the home sweep.

The 22-save shutout for goaltender Liam Souliere meant that the Gophers shut out the Wolverines in back-to-back games for the first time since January 16th, 1943. 

With potentially several players out of the lineup, the newly rated No. 1 but banged-up Gophers will face an even more challenging test this coming weekend against No. 3 Michigan State (12-2-0). The teams will square up starting at 7:30 PM on 12/13 and 5:00 PM on 12/14. 

Minnesota Duluth (5-10-0) at No. 19 Arizona State (8-7-1)

In game one, the Bulldogs trailed 1-0 after one, but points leader Dominic James made it all square only 52 seconds into period two. The Sun Devils would go on to score three unanswered goals before Minnesota Duluth found an answer in the third period. The first response came via freshman Max Plante, scoring his first collegiate goal with the assist going to brother Zam. Only a minute later, Dominic James scored his second goal of the night to make it 4-3, but the comeback fell short, with Minnesota Duluth losing 5-3. Arizona State goaltender Luke Pavicich made 35 saves in the victory. 

Night two at Mullett Arena opened with a scoreless first period where the Bulldogs outshot the Sun Devils 13-6. Arizona State brothers Ty and Dylan Jackson connected late in the second to score the lone goal scored in the period. Just over five minutes into period three, Max Plante notched his second goal for the weekend to tie it at 1-1.

Trailing once more later in the period, Zam Plante took a turn at scoring to bring it to 2-2 and force overtime. With only seconds remaining in overtime, the Sun Devils scored to claim the sweep, resulting in the fourth straight loss for Minnesota Duluth. 

The Bulldogs' holiday break will now commence, and the team will return for one final game in 2024 on New Year's Eve, with a game at Bemidji State starting at 7:07 PM. 

No. 15 Minnesota State (12-4-2) vs. Bowling Green (5-7-2)

Entering the game with a 7-1-2 record in their previous 10 games, Minnesota State's Adam Eisele recorded his sixth goal of the season to open the scoring, and the Mavericks led 2-1 after one.

The lone goal in the second period came on the power play off the stick of Minnesota State's Luke Ashton, leading to a two-goal cushion heading into the third. Senior forward Kaden Bohlsen added a late fourth goal, and the Mavericks beat the Falcons 4-1, improving their all-time record against Bowling Green to 28-11-3. 

In game two of the series, the teams traded blows early, with Bowling Green opening the scoring 3:46 into the period before Rhett Pitlick responded for the Mavericks only 18 seconds later. The lone goal in the middle frame came off the stick of defenseman Campbell Cichosz, resulting in a 2-1 Minnesota State lead at the end of two.

The Falcons tied the game early in the third, and Bowling Green's goaltender Cole Moore made a whopping 24 saves in the final frame to force overtime. Rhett Pitlick buried a one-timer in overtime to win it for the Mavericks, tallying his third point of the night to help the team claim their second consecutive sweep. 

Minnesota State will remain home to faceoff against Lake Superior State this weekend for their final series of the year, with puck drop at 7:07 PM on 12/13 and 6:07 PM on 12/14. 

No. 9 St. Cloud State (10-5-0) vs. Nebraska Omaha (6-8-0)

Midway through the first period in game one, the Mavericks struck, leading to a 1-0 deficit for the Huskies at the first intermission. Sophomore Warren Clark tallied his first collegiate goal 4:20 into period two to tie the game. Falling behind a goal once more, St. Cloud State's Tyson Gross buried back-to-back goals to close the period and put the Huskies ahead 3-2 heading into the third.

Unfortunately for the Huskies, it took the Mavericks only 22 seconds to retie it, and the game eventually headed to overtime, where Omaha's Sam Stange scored to clinch the road win. 

Trailing 1-0 to start the second for the second night in a row, St. Cloud State dominated the second period, scoring four unanswered goals and three-for-three on the power play. The power-play goals were started by Austin Burnevik, followed by Tyson Gross, and ended with Minnetonka alumni Josh Luedtke.

Leading 4-1 to open the third, Tyson Gross sniped home his fourth goal of the weekend to make it 5-1 and put the game officially out of reach. The 5-2 win improves the Huskies record at home this season to 6-3.

The Huskies will hit the road to battle No. 16 North Dakota (9-7-1) for their final conference opponent of 2024, with puck drop at 7:00 PM on Friday and 6:00 PM on Saturday. 

St. Thomas (4-9-4) at Michigan Tech (8-5-1)

Looking to rebound in their final series before going on holiday break, the Tommies Mason Poolman (East Grand Forks) opened the scoring 11:34 into the game. However, the Huskies answered minutes later, and the score was all knotted up at the first intermission.

A scoreless second period ensued, and in the third, Michigan Tech took advantage of their first power play opportunity of the period and scored a go-ahead goal with 9:47 remaining. St. Thomas had chances to tie the game late but came up empty, losing game one 2-1. 

In Saturday's rematch, St. Thomas opened the scoring for the second night in a row. Lucas Wahlin scored his seventh goal of the season before Liam Malmquist added a power-play tally minutes later to double the lead. With less than a second left on the clock, Cretin-Derham Hall alumni Matthew Gleason scored on a backhand shot to bring it to 3-1 at the end of one.

The Tommies carried that two-goal advantage into the third period and added a late empty net goal to seal a 4-1 win, earning a split and their first win since 11/16. 

St. Thomas will have three full weeks off before returning to play post-Christmas at St. Cloud State on 12/29.