Brainerd vs. Moorhead

7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12

Brainerd and Moorhead are streaking toward their meeting on Tuesday — a rivalry matchup that history shows has been back and forth.

The teams have split their regular-season series each of the last three years, with three one-goal games and two overtime contests in the last eight meetings.

Brainerd lost to Moorhead 5-1 in the season opener in late November, but the Warriors (14-8-0, 7-1-0) seem to be a different team now that it's February. Two narrow victories over a Buffalo team boasting one of the state's best defenses (and both coming within a week of each other around the start of the new year) has fueled Brainerd's hot streak. The Warriors went 7-1 in January before falling to Roseau 4-3 on Feb. 2. They bounced back to defeat No. 7-1A Alexandria 5-2 on Feb. 5 but lost at No. 3-2A Blaine 5-2 on Feb. 8.

To avoid cooling in the final weeks of the regular season and even the season series with Moorhead, Brainerd can look to Riley Andres (10-15-25) to power its offense. The senior recorded a point or more in each of the Warriors' last nine games, in which he tallied five goals and 13 assists.

The Spuds are unbeaten in their last nine games, including victories over No. 6-1A East Grand Forks (4-3 on Jan. 8), No. 2-1A St. Cloud Cathedral (5-2 on Jan. 26) and No. 9-1A Warroad (9-5 on Feb. 2).

A victory over Brainerd could garner Moorhead some more confidence heading into what should be a challenging Class 2A, Section 8 playoff bracket containing six teams capable of taking the title.

Balance has been key to the Spuds' success. Kyler Kleven has eight goals and nine assists to power the offense while goaltender Hudson Hodges is 5-0-1 with three shutouts and six total goals allowed in the last nine games for Moorhead (16-6-1, 5-1-0).