A stirring rally in the closing minutes had the pro-Bemidji crowd roaring with approval, and a third-period injury to Mr. Hockey Award favorite Dylan Malmquist only added to Edina’s mounting concerns.

Despite all the high-decibel drama, the outcome was nothing out of the ordinary for the two-time defending state champion and No. 2-seeded Hornets. They hung on for a 6-4 state Class 2A quarterfinal victory over the unseeded Lumberjacks (23-4-2) on Thursday at Xcel Energy Center in St.Paul.

The Hornets allowed two goals in the final 2:07, including one by Bemidji junior Josh Lusby with 55 seconds left that cut Edina’s lead to 5-4. But it turns out the Hornets (25-1-2) will be just fine — and maybe even better — for the experience.

Malmquist, Edina’s all-time leading scorer who has committed to Notre Dame, was hit in the back of his left leg by a blistering shot from teammate Garrett Wait early in the third period and didn’t return. Malmquist didn’t attend the postgame media session, but said via text after the game: “Just a bruise, feels fine now. Will be back [Friday].”

The Hornets weren’t particularly battle-tested entering the state tournament. Edina won its two section playoff games by a combined 17-3 score, including a 10-1 thrashing of Burnsville in the championship.

“It’s a good thing to have going into the next game, knowing this is how the playoffs are played,” said Edina senior forward Matt Masterman, who scored twice against the Lumberjacks. “We got a taste of that.”

A stirring last-minute rally by upset-minded Bemidji fell just short as No. 2-seeded Edina held off the unseeded Lumberjacks 6-4 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Class 2A state tournament at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

A goal by Bemidji’s Jack Johnson with 2:07 left in the third period was followed by another from teammate Josh Lusby with 54 seconds left as the Lumberjacks (23-4-2) pulled to within 5-4. Edina’s Casey Dornbach capped the scoring with an empty-net goal with 2 seconds remaining.

Two-time defending state champion Edina (25-1-2) advances to the semifinals where it will play the winner of Duluth East and St. Thomas Academy in a 6 p.m. start on Friday.

Senior Matt Masterman of Edina scored twice and junior Garrett Wait had a goal and an assist to propel the Hornets to a big early advantage.

Masterman opened the scoring 2:18 into the opening period with a deflection past Bemidji goaltender Grant Tharaldson. Two more quick goals, by senior Parker Mishmash and Wait, gave the No. 2-state ranked Hornets a 3-0 lead 6:28 into the first.

Bemidji, making its first state tournament appearance since 1986, got the crowd roaring with back-to-back goals by Rocky Copiskey and Jake Leitner  just 43 seconds into the second. The Lumberjacks' goals came just 27 seconds apart.

Edina regained control with goals by sophomore Bram Scheerer and Masterman to take a 5-2 lead in the third. Masterman has 25 goals in 27games this season.

Edina goaltender Kobe Boe finished with 13 saves. Bemidji’s Tharaldson had 29.

Edina defeated Bemidji 6-0 in the 1974 state title game to complete a 24-0 season.