Elk River at Maple Grove
7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2

Hockey fans could be in for a shootout Tuesday night when No. 5-2A Elk River (1-1-0) visits No. 14-2A Maple Grove (0-3-0) in a key Northwest Suburban Conference tilt. Not that either team expected to be in that position, but early season results have left both teams' defenses scratching their heads.

Maple Grove has dropped its first three games while allowing 5.3 goals per game, although the Crimson have faced tough competition in Wayzata (a 4-1 loss), Holy Family Catholic (a 4-2 loss) and Eden Prairie (an 8-3 loss).

Leading scorer Josh Passolt has started with two goals and two assists. Meanwhile, the goaltending tandem of junior Brady Goodman and senior Cal McKenney has already faced 122 shots in three games.

Elk River is allowing 5.0 goals per game, but has been scoring at a prodigious rate as well. The Elks edged Wayzata 6-5 in overtime and then lost a 5-3 decision to Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

Senior forward Jake Jaremko and junior defenseman Matt Kierstad lead the Elks in scoring with four points each, while five other players have at least two points. Jax Murray has proven to be a nice addition from the Bantam team with two goals in the win over Wayzata, including the game-winner in overtime.