Does mojo matter entering the playoffs?
Grand Rapids (15-7-1) has won five straight — all against quality opponents — and figures to be the top challenger to Andover, the sure No. 1 seed in Class 2A, Section 7.
Grand Rapids dynamic junior defenseman Jack Peart (11 goals, 13 assists) shares the team scoring lead and has five points in his last three games. Senior goaltender Carter Clafton (.928 save percentage, 1.73 goals-against average) is capable of stealing a victory.
Cloquet-Esko-Carlton (13-10-1, 3-1-0), meanwhile, had lost three consecutive games before patching at least a few holes in its listing ship by routing White Bear Lake 6-2 on Saturday.
Junior Christian Galatz (31 goals) is one of just 12 players in the state to have reached the 30-goal plateau. He had a goal and two assists in the Lumberjacks' victory over White Bear Lake.