The Brett Larson era got off to a shaky 0-3-1 start, but Minnesota looked like a different team in its first home game of the season on Thursday night. The Gophers held on just enough to beat bitter rival North Dakota 5-3 for their first victory of the season.
Highly touted St. Cloud State transfer defenseman Tanner Henricks struck first for the Gophers with 2:39 left in the first period, marking his first goal in a Minnesota uniform. The Gophers trailed 10-8 in shots on goal, but they led 1-0 on the scoreboard after 20 minutes.
Gophers strike first!
— Tony Liebert (@TonyLiebert) October 23, 2026
Great atmosphere tonight at Mariucci. pic.twitter.com/qp2uX6zvBU
The second period remained incredibly physical. North Dakota landed on the right side of some questionable calls, and the Fighting Hawks tied the game at 1-1 with 9:44 to go. Minnesota still controlled much of the momentum, with a 24-15 advantage in shots on goal through two periods.
The Gophers dominated much of the game with a 35-24 advantage in shots on goal, and were rewarded in the third period. Christian Humphreys found the back of the net for the first time this season to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead. Jacob Kvasnicka scored less than two minutes later to extend the lead to 3-1. Just over one minute later, Humphreys scored again, and Minnesota took a commanding 4-1 lead.
Things got a little dicey at the end of the game, as North Dakota cut the deficit to 4-3 with just over five minutes to go. But an empty-net goal from Beckett Hendrickson put the finishing touches on a 5-3 win.
Gophers hockey should have the highest standards for a program in the sport, and Thursday night’s win is exactly what Larson and his new regime needed. Dominating your biggest rival 5-3 in your home opener is the type of result that can completely change the season-long momentum for a young team.
The series will wrap up Friday night with a 6 p.m. CT start. The game will be broadcast on FOX9+ and B1G+, as Minnesota goes for its first sweep under Larson.
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This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Oct 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Gophers section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.