DULUTH EAST (16-10-4) VS. LAKEVILLE NORTH (30-0)
What: Class AA state tournament final
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Xcel Energy Center
Outlook: Duluth East became the third boys team from the Northland on Friday to reach a state championship game - joining Hermantown in Class A and Superior in Wisconsin. The Greyhounds did it thanks to a pair of highlight-reel goals from brothers Nick Altmann (15 goals, 13 assists, 28 points) and Ash Altmann (11-18-29), a power-play tally from Luke Dow (10-13-23) and another dominant effort from goalie Gunnar Howg (2.50 goals-against average, .902 save percentage) in a 3-1 win over No. 2 Edina. The unseeded Greyhounds are enjoying one of the most mind-boggling runs of their 22 trips to the state tournament. They are back in the title game for the first time since 2011 and are looking for the program’s fourth championship banner - the last came in 1998. Coach Mike Randolph, who has 561 career wins, was asked Friday what he’s done to get this unlikeliest of teams into the final. “It’s not what I’ve done - it’s what these guys have done,” he said, gesturing to his players at the postgame news conference. East lost to Lakeville North 2-1 on Jan. 13 - a game Randolph cited as a catalyst for the Greyhounds’ mid-year turnaround. … Lakeville North, unbeaten and untied, is trying to join rare air by running the table. The Panthers held off Eden Prairie in Friday’s last semifinal. Theirs is a roster full of Division I recruits, including Mr. Hockey finalists Jack Poehling, Nick Poehling and Jack Sadek. They are seeking their first title in their second straight and sixth overall tournament appearance. Lakeville North lost last year’s final 8-2 to Edina.
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Radio: KQDS-AM 1490
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Tickets: Adults, $17; students, $11
