BEMIDJI, Minn. – No. 1/3 University of Minnesota's Jaxon Nelson scored with just 68 seconds remaining to give the Golden Gophers a 2-1 victory over the Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team Saturday night in their New Year's Eve exhibition game.
 
Bemidji State opened the game when junior Eric Martin scored 11:52 into the opening period but just 1:01 later Minnesota's Matthew Knies scored a power-play goal to tie the game.
 
The two teams played a scoreless second period and most of the third period as well but Nelson handed the Gophers the victory after scoring the game-winning goal with just 1:08 remaining in the game.
 
Minnesota totaled 24 shots to 20 for the Beavers but BSU held the Gophers to just 10 shots through the first two periods. The Gophers turned it on in the final 20 minutes and out-shot BSU 14-6 in the final frame.
 
Junior Gavin Enright made his first start since Nov. 26 and turned aside 22-of-24 shots by the Gophers while Minnesota's Owen Bartoszkiewicz made 19-of-20 saves.
 
Bemidji State was 0-for-1 on its lone power play opportunity while Minnesota cashed in on one of its three chances.
 
The game will be credited as an exhibition so no stats will count towards the season.
 
Bemidji State returns to regular competition next weekend when it plays University of Minnesota Duluth for a home-and-home series. The Beavers will host the Bulldogs at Sanford Center Friday, Jan. 6 to begin the two-game series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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