BEMIDJI, Minn. (Hockey Day Minnesota Rink) -- Dillon Eichstadt scored a power-play goal with 1:55 left in overtime to give Bemidji State University a 4-3 victory over Michigan Tech Friday to kick off Hockey Day Minnesota 2019.

Growing up just blocks from the temporary Hockey Day Minnesota Rink, Eichstadt learned to play hockey down the street at the Nymore Park outdoor rink, so it was only fitting that the hometown boy filed the game-winning goal in front of fans, friends, family and neighbors.

With just moments left in penalty to Collin Swoyer, BSU's Ross Armour found Eichstadt on the point and the senior unleashed a shot that would find its way through traffic and past the Michigan Tech goaltender, Robbie Beydoun. The goal sent the 4,201 hearty Minnesotans who braved the sub-zero temperatures home satisfied.

Three times the Beavers battled back from one goal down to tie the game, finally pushing to overtime and setting up Eichstadt's heroics.

The triumph allowed Bemidji State to even its record to 11-11-3 overall while it moved to 9-7-1-0 in WCHA play.

Michigan Tech drew first blood, lighting its half of the scoreboard 2:35 after the opening face off. As both teams were feeling out the ice conditions, acclimating to arctic temps and adjusting to the lighting, the Huskies’ Brian Halonen fired a short-angle shot on BSU's Zach Driscoll and it skipped off the post and in.

Thirty seconds later, the Beavers evened the score when Ethan Somoza, a native of California playing in his first outdoor game, got a backhand on the puck out of a scrum in front of the net and collected his fourth goal of the year. Armour and Adam Brady set up the goal pushing the puck around the back of the net and into the scrum in front from the back wall.

Before the period would end, Todd Kiilunen sent the Huskies into the locker room to warm up owning a 2-1 lead after slipping his first goal of the season into the back of the net at the 15:28 mark.

The second period belonged to the Beavers.

BSU set the tone from the opening tap and would ride the wave of momentum to a 21-10 edge in shots on goal during the frame and to head into the final 20 minutes of regulation locked in a 3-3 tie. Armour won the opening face off back to Dan Billett, the senior quickly wound up and fired a shot from the red line and it went in. In what stands as the fastest goal to open a period in Beaver Hockey history, it took the Beavers just six seconds to tie the game at 2-2.

A Gavin Gould goal put the Huskies back in front, 3-2, at the 3:27 mark, but Jay Dickman pulled the Beavers back into the game with a break away, backhand goal at the 6:56 mark with help from Brad Johnson and Nick Cardelli.

The teams played a scoreless third period as the Beavers saw their second consecutive game stretched to overtime.

Armour led all Beavers in scoring and was the only player on the ice to post more than one point. He matched a career-high three assists in the game to vault himself into second on the team in assist scoring with 11.

Driscoll collected his sixth victory of the season in goal, equalling a career-high 33 saves in the game.

BSU will push for its second sweep of the season tomorrow when it moves indoors to Sanford Center to host Michigan Tech. The opening faceoff is slated for 7:37 p.m.

Tickets for the game are still available and begin at $12. Visit the Sanford Center Box Office to reserve your seat.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletics programs, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

--bsu--