Max Elsenheimer experienced a season of change, from breaking in new linemates to redefining his own game.

Content, as coach Mike Taylor put it, “to blaze down the sides and try to snipe the puck,” Elsenheimer is “now putting pucks on the net from everywhere and getting goals.”

A senior forward who tallied only six goals during the regular season, Elsenheimer scored a goal in all three section playoffs games and produced his first multi-goal game of the season Thursday.

Those goals fueled No. 5 Eagan’s 3-0 victory against No. 4 Duluth East in the Class 2A boys’ hockey quarterfinals at Xcel Energy Center.

Wildcats senior defenseman Nick Wolff set up the first goal, gathering the puck along the boards near the top of the circle and firing. Elsenheimer was credited with the tip as Eagan went ahead with two seconds remaining in the second period.

Defenseman Tommy Muck helped preserve Eagan’s slim lead by whisking away a puck that got behind goaltender Andrew Lindgren early in the third period.

Elsenheimer struck again in the third with a remarkable effort. A lane opened in front of the net for Elsenheimer but he could not get a shot off. Taking the puck behind the net, he turned and fired from a sharp angle and got the puck over goaltender Gunnar Howg’s shoulder.

The Wildcats (19-9-1) led 2-0 at 6:34 of the period and continued nullifying the attack of Duluth East (21-7-1).

Eagan set up a rematch in Friday’s semifinals with Edina. The Wildcats won 2-1 on Dec. 7.

DAVID LA VAQUE

First Report

Max Elsenheimer scored twice to propel No. 5-seeded Eagan past No. 4 seed Duluth East 3-0 in the state boys’ Class 2A hockey quarterfinals on Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Elsenheimer, a senior forward, gave the Wildcats (18-9-1) a two-goal early in the third period when he swung the puck out from behind the net and whirled a fired a bad angle shot that found an opening above Greyhounds goaltender Gunnar Howg.

Elsenheimer’s first goal came with 1.1 seconds left in the second period. Nick Wolff snapped a shot from along the boards near the top of the left faceoff circle, and the puck deflected in off Elsenheimer stationed in front.

Wolff, a senior defenseman and Mr. Hockey finalist, had just missed on a scoring chance seconds earlier when cruising through the crease area during the Wildcats’ power play.

Elsenheimer’s goal woke the Xcel Energy Center crowd announced at 17,979 for Thursday’s evening session and injected a spark in the Wildcats as they headed to the locker room for the second intermission.

Kyle Stebbing added an empty net goal 1:05 left.

Eagan led 1-0 early in the third when, with Duluth East (21-6-1) on a power play, Wildcats’ senior defenseman Tommy Muck swept a puck out of the crease area just before it crossed the goal line.

Duluth East, ranked No. 8 in the state outshot unranked Eagan 11-6 in the first period, and the Wildcats’ outshot the Greyhounds by the same margin in the second. Eagan had a 29-28 advantage in shots overall.

LOREN NELSON


PHOTO GALLERY: Eagan 3, Duluth East 0


Postgame Press Conference: Eagan 3, Duluth East 0