Eden Prairie tops Blaine to reach Class AA Championship Game

Blaine led, 2-0, at the end of the first period with two goals by junior forward Cole Hansen, giving him 14 for the season. Eden Prairie answered with four goals of their own. Senior defenseman Keegan Langefels and senior forward Garrett Smith had back-to-back goals just 25 seconds apart to tie the game at 2-2.

Junior forward Luke Mittelstadt and senior forward Carsen Jones each scored a goal to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead at the end of the second period. Bengals junior forward Carsen Richels had a late third period goal to bring the game within one goal. Eden Prairie held onto its lead the last couple minutes of the period to secure the victory. 

The Eagles finished the game with 38 shots on goal, including a decisive 14-4 margin in the first period. The Bengals finished the game with 23 shots on goal. 

Eden Prairie junior goalie Axel Rosenlund stopped 20 shots in the semifinal win while Blaine senior goalie Joe Daninger had 34 saves for the Bengals.

Eden Prairie will play for the Class AA championship title against the #1Edina/#4St. Thomas Academy winner on Saturday, March 9 at 7 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center. Blaine will play the loser of that matchup on Saturday at 4 p.m. for third-place honors.